The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a franchise-altering offseason. Mike Tomlin stepped down the day after the 2025 season ended, and the organization has been searching for its next leader ever since. Other teams around the league have already filled their coaching vacancies, but Pittsburgh made it clear that it was going to take its time with this search. The franchise has some interest in members of the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff, but those coaches are still in the middle of their season. In the meantime, a lot has been made about potentially hiring former head coach, Mike McCarthy.
Smiley N. Pool / Dallas Morning News
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hugs his old head coach, Mike McCarthy, after their team won a big professional football contest.
McCarthy began his head-coaching career as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and he coached that franchise and Aaron Rodgers through the 2018 season. McCarthy then spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, and he took the 2025 season off completely. He wants to return to the coaching world, and he interviewed with the Steelers. This seems like an uncharacteristic hire for the franchise, but anything is possible. Analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky shared his thoughts on the matter during an appearance on Get Up on Thursday.
"Hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing Aaron back would be the worst decision Pittsburgh could make," Orlovsky said. "And that's not an indictment on either of them individually. Mike McCarthy is a really good coach, obviously Aaron, one of the all-time greats. What are we doing, Pittsburgh? To hire Mike McCarthy and bring Aaron back is going to place you quite literally in the same position you are in right now in January of 2027. I said this when they made the moves last year. They are in the worst possible place. They're going to be good enough to win nine or 10 games, and they're not going to be bad enough to finally get a quarterback."
The idea of McCarthy being hired and him interviewing for the job in Pittsburgh has highlighted the possibility that the franchise could bring Rodgers back as its quarterback. The two spent a ton of time together in Green Bay, but they also had some rocky moments with one another. The two did not always get along, so it might not be the match made in heaven that some are making it out to be.
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Steelers' 2025 QB Aaron Rodgers meets with former Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger during his time with the Packers.
Rodgers played well during his lone season in Pittsburgh in 2025, but the franchise needs to take step forward. Hiring McCarthy and bringing Rodgers back would be a lateral move, or a step backwards.
It is okay to hire a new, young head coach and have a down year or two. That is how teams land franchise quarterbacks in the NFL Draft. It is almost impossible in the NFL to win without a franchise quarterback. The days of Brad Johnson or Trent Dilfer winning Super Bowls with stout defenses to back them are seemingly over. If the Steelers were a serious organization that has learned a lesson or two over the past couple of seasons, hiring McCarthy and bringing any veteran like Rodgers in for the 2026 season wouldn't be a legitimate thought.
Steelers Hiring Mike McCarthy Could Be Somewhat Beneficial
Hiring McCarthy could have some benefits, as long as the organization does not also bring back Rodgers. He is an offensive-minded head coach, which is a nice change of pace. He also has a history of developing quarterbacks, which is something that the Steelers need to think about considering where they are at as a franchise when it comes to the quarterback position.
Another benefit is age. McCarthy is 62 years old. He likely won't be coaching the Steelers in 19 seasons. The franchise could move on from him rather quickly if things do not work out, which is something the organization has not done since 1969.
What do you think about this potential move? Do you agree with Orlovsky? Comment below!
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