The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new head coach, and it’s only the fourth in the organization’s history since 1969. The team officially introduced Mike McCarthy on Tuesday during his press conference, marking the next chapter after Mike Tomlin’s decision to step away following 19 seasons at the helm. Tomlin’s tenure was defined by consistent leadership, and while debates about his playoff record will always exist, no one can question his ability to lead men both on and off the field.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' star defensive lineman Cam Heyward and long-time former head coach Mike Tomlin share a moment as they walk off the field after a game in the Steel City.
Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward has long been vocal about his admiration for Tomlin, often highlighting the veteran coach’s leadership and impact on the locker room. Now, with McCarthy in charge, Heyward faces the transition from one legendary figure to another. The conversation about what it truly means to be a “leader of men” in the NFL is constant, and Heyward has been candid in acknowledging the weight of that expectation for any head coach entering a storied organization like Pittsburgh.
On his podcast Not Just Football, Heyward was asked by co-host Hayden Walsh how real and pressing the “leader of men” topic is for new head coaches. Heyward didn’t shy away from the question, speaking openly and honestly about the challenges and responsibilities McCarthy faces as he steps into a role that carries not just the X’s and O’s of football, but the culture and legacy of a franchise that has seen only four leaders in more than 50 years.
"You will get laughed out of the freaking room," Heyward told Walsh on Wednesday. "You will be looked at as a joke. You have to be able to talk to players. You got to be able to get the best out of them. Those are the things you first got to be able to do to be a head coach. Then you got to be able to delegate. You got to be able to hire a good staff that you think can get the best out of each player."
Now, it’s clear that Heyward isn’t speaking directly about McCarthy here. At 62 years old and with an NFL career dating back to 1993, McCarthy has long been well-versed in the importance of leading professional athletes and managing a locker room. He demonstrated that skill when he led the Green Bay Packers to a victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
However, what Heyward is truly highlighting is how exceptional a leader Tomlin was and how difficult it will be to replicate that kind of leadership in Pittsburgh or anywhere else. Heyward even went so far as to say that head coaching hires are also a reflection of how strong a general manager is, showing that leadership in the NFL extends far beyond the sideline.
"If your GM signed off on someone who can't stand in front of men, that's an indictment on you," Heyward said. "You'll be thrown to the wolves with your head coach."
General Manager Omar Khan will be hoping that McCarthy can command the respect of the team, but with 18 seasons of experience as a head coach, that should not be too difficult for him.
Steelers Fans Didn't Love The New Head Coaching Hire
When it was revealed that the Steelers were hiring McCarthy, it didn’t exactly inspire confidence across the fan base. However, after his first press conference, it seems Steelers fans are starting to come around to the idea of this new era.
Steelers.com
Dan Rooney III, Art Rooney II, Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and Omar Khan after McCarthy singed his contract to become the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Many had wanted a younger head coach with more risk and boom-or-bust potential, but the Steelers went with the 62-year-old veteran. Now, a new era is officially underway in Pittsburgh.
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