Steelers' Offensive Line Should Soar Thanks To New Coaching Option After Mike McCarthy Hire

Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans aren’t super excited about the decision to hire Mike McCarthy as their next head coach. Pittsburgh has only hired four head coaches since 1969, and all four have won Super Bowls. Of course, McCarthy won his Super Bowl against the Steelers when he and Aaron Rodgers took down Mike Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV. 

Now, at 62 years old, he’s tasked with stepping into an angry fan base and trying to deliver postseason glory once again. Steelers fans are trying to be optimistic about the hire, but it’s tough. Many wanted to see a younger option and a true continuation of the organization’s legacy. Steelers Team President and Owner Art Rooney II was pleased with McCarthy’s plan for his assistant coaches when he hired him.

"He's in the process right now of trying to hire a staff," Rooney said. "It's not an easy task, because some of the people he'd like to hire are under contract to other teams, and so we've got to get permission to talk to them. But just in general, the people he had targeted for key positions – offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and those kinds of things – we were very comfortable with the discussion around that."

Some good news has emerged, however. McCarthy is known for treating his offensive line coach with a level of importance comparable to the offensive coordinator. That might seem natural, but surprisingly, not every head coach thinks that way. For Pittsburgh, this is significant because their current offensive line coach, Pat Meyer, hasn’t exactly inspired excitement in recent seasons.

With McCarthy now in the Steel City, the Steelers’ offensive line could be in line for a major upgrade. An elite coaching option at offensive line coach could transform the unit, give the team better protection schemes, and ultimately help set up the offense for success. While fans may still have doubts about McCarthy overall, this development offers a reason to be cautiously optimistic as the team looks toward the future.

A potential option for McCarthy could be Joe Philbin. He served as McCarthy’s offensive line coach from 2020–2022 with the Dallas Cowboys and also spent several seasons with him in Green Bay. Ahead of the 2024 season, Philbin was hired as the Las Vegas Raiders’ senior offensive assistant and was later thrust into an interim role as offensive line coach after James Cregg was fired. 

Steelers' Broderick Jones May Benefit Big Time From The Mike McCarthy Hire

At 64 years old, Philbin brings a wealth of experience in developing elite offensive line talent. Perhaps McCarthy’s hiring, combined with someone like Philbin or whoever he elects to hire, could finally get the Steelers back to elite offensive line play and also aid in the development of young tackle Broderick Jones, who has shown tremendous potential, but has struggled to make a consistent impact in his first couple of NFL seasons.

While Steelers fans may still have mixed feelings about McCarthy’s hiring, there are reasons for cautious optimism. His respect for assistant coaches, particularly the offensive line coach, could be a game-changer for a unit that has underperformed in recent years. 

Bringing in an experienced option like Philbin could accelerate the development of young talent like Jones, while strengthening the line as a whole. At 62, McCarthy faces high expectations, but his track record suggests he knows how to build winning teams. 

If the offensive line flourishes, it could be the first step toward returning Pittsburgh to postseason contention. Of course McCarthy has worked with other options in his lengthy career. All his former assistants could certainly be options for the Steelers.

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