The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of trying to find the franchise's next head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down from his role following the conclusion of the 2025 season. This came as a surprise to some, but it felt like the coach moving on was a possibility throughout the year. Pittsburgh has now begun to conduct a head-coaching search for the first time in nearly two decades, and it is going to be interesting to see who is hired. Most of the candidates are a bit younger, but there is a good mix of offensive and defensive-minded coaches.
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Steelers President Art Rooney II walks on the field before the team gets ready for a game against its AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Steelers seem to have a good group of candidates that includes some coaches from the Los Angeles Rams staff, as well as an up and coming offensive mind like Klay Kubiak. However, there is a questionable name that has come up, and that is Mike McCarthy. McCarthy had a pretty good stint as both the head coach of the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, but he doesn't seem to fit the mold to be the next head coach in Pittsburgh based on how the Steelers have hired recent coaches in the past. Team insider Mark Kaboly went on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday where he discussed his thoughts after it was announced that McCarthy is focused on landing the Pittsburgh job.
"What part of the Steelers' 55-year history makes you think they would go after a guy with that age and is that kind of a coach?" Kaboly asked. "I don't think there's much to this. I don't think he's a strong candidate. He has to be a candidate, but maybe not a strong candidate. I wouldn't read too much into it. We know how agents help out each other, I think the Steelers are helping out Mike McCarthy. I think whoever reported it, [Tom] Pelissero, he might be helping out McCarthy's agent."
McCarthy was last a head coach during the 2024 season when he coached the Cowboys. His group came up short and he was fired, and he didn't really get many looks for the 2025 season. The same thing seems to be the case going into the 2026 offseason as three openings have already been filled, and McCarthy doesn't seem to be a key candidate for any franchise.
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Former NFL head coach Mike McCarthy looks on from the sidelines during a time in his Green Bay tenure.
Agents and team reporters all help each other out a little bit when it makes sense to. Kaboly believes Tom Pelissero, who reported that McCarthy was a strong candidate in Pittsburgh, was just helping out McCarthy's team by reporting news like that. It can make another team with an opening start to look into the former head coach, which might spark McCarthy landing a job.
Super Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy will interview Wednesday with the Steelers, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2026
McCarthy was a candidate for the Titans before withdrawing Monday morning and has turned down other inquiries. He’s focused on Pittsburgh, where he’s considered a strong candidate. pic.twitter.com/jJBPWCp4Sv
Pittsburgh could also be helping McCarthy out as well by just bringing him in for an interview. He is from Pittsburgh and has shown love towards the organization whenever he can, so the franchise might just be trying to help build some steam for McCarty to get hired.
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Mike McCarthy coaching on the sidelines during an away game as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Steelers Could Have Interest In Mike McCarthy As An Offensive Coordinator
Pittsburgh is going to have essentially an entire new coaching staff during the 2026 season, and coordinators and assistants are going to be up to whoever is brought in as the new head coach. The Steelers typically higher younger guys when it comes to head coach, but the organization does have a history of bringing in older coordinators. McCarthy could fit that role, and he would provide the new head coach with someone who has plenty of experience in the role.
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