Steelers Certainly Made The Right Choice As Chris Shula And Nate Scheelhaase "Were A Little Bit Too Overhyped"

It has been one week since the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they were hiring Mike McCarthy as the 17th head coach in franchise history. The decision sparked mixed reactions from fans and media, with many hoping the organization would go a different direction in their first head coaching search since 2007. While McCarthy didn't fit the young, defensive-minded profile some envisioned, his resume stands out. One Steelers insider believes that pedigree mattered and that Pittsburgh ultimately made the right call by selecting the seasoned and most accomplished coach available in this year’s hiring cycle process.

McCarthy brings 18 years of head coaching experience to the Steel City, leading the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2018 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-2024. While the Steelers have a history of hiring defensive-minded, up-and-coming head coaches, the 2026 Steelers are a team needing to find an offensive identity. Bringing in McCarthy with his offensive background and ability to groom quarterbacks seems to be a great fit. For a team like Pittsburgh, which has struggled to find a consistent offensive identity in recent years, McCarthy’s experience could be exactly what they need to stabilize the ship and start producing results on the field.

However, many fans of the Black and Gold would've preferred the team taking a different route. Two of the biggest names thrown around during this year's coaching cycle were Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula, as well as their Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Both young assistants under Super Bowl-winning head coach, Sean McVay, seemed as if each were destined to become head coaches in 2026. Shula has impressed with his aggressive defensive schemes and ability to develop young talent, while Scheelhaase has been credited with helping mold the Rams’ offense into one of the most dynamic units in football. As intriguing as Shula or Scheelhaase appeared to be however, the Steelers ultimately went with McCarthy without giving either a second interview. The decision surprised some, considering the excitement around the younger candidates and their association with the successful Rams system, but the Steelers clearly valued McCarthy's experience.

While joining George Von Benko on WMBS Radio on Saturday, team insider Ray Fittipaldo supported the McCarthy hire, and potentially opened the eyes of some upset Steelers fans. 

"They do it [hire McCarthy] on a Saturday. Monday, they could’ve talked with the Rams assistants, Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase, but in the end, they didn’t feel like that was necessary," Fittipaldo said. "Looking back, pretty much all of these jobs are filled, and Scheelhaase and Shula still don’t have [head coaching] jobs."

As of Saturday morning, the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals are the only teams still looking for a head coach, with eight other teams already making hires, and none of them being Shula or Scheelhaase. 

Despite the buzz around the young Rams assistants, neither have landed a head coaching job for the 2026 season. 

"Maybe those guys were a little bit too overhyped, or maybe they were a victim of the Rams’ success. In the end, the Steelers probably did the right thing," Fittipaldo said. "Mike [McCarthy] is by far the most experienced coach out there that was hired this cycle, and he has the best resume too. The guy can coach and put together a coaching staff."

It’s clear that Pittsburgh is betting on stability and proven leadership, rather than taking a gamble on untested potential. The next few months will reveal how McCarthy shapes the team, and how the Steelers’ offense develops under his guidance. Fans will also be watching closely to see which assistants he brings in, how he manages the locker room, and how quickly the team adapts to his system. 

Steelers' McCarthy Begins Forming His Coaching Staff

One of McCarthy’s first major moves in Pittsburgh was hiring Patrick Graham as his defensive coordinator. Graham spent the last four seasons as DC for the Las Vegas Raiders. McCarthy and Graham have worked together in the past, as Graham served as the linebackers coach & run game coordinator in Green Bay in 2018. 

While McCarthy brings an offensive-minded approach to Pittsburgh, Graham's duty will be to shape the league's highest-paid defense into one of the top performing units in the NFL. Overall, do you think the Steelers made the right decision? Comment below!

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