The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of going through the biggest change for the organization since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Former head coach Mike Tomlin announced he would be stepping down from his role the day after the Steelers' 2025 season came to a close, and the organization knew this was a possibility as it already had a list of candidates ready to go to replace him. The franchise landed on Mike McCarthy as its next head coach, which has been seen as a bit of an odd move, but it could work as Pittsburgh has needed some help on the offensive side of the ball for some time now.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach, Mike McCarthy with Team President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan at McCarthy's introductory press conference in Pittsburgh.
McCarthy was not the attractive hire in Pittsburgh as a large portion of the fan base wanted someone younger, but at the very least, he is an offensive mind, which is a nice change of pace. He is known for his ability to develop the quarterback position, which is something Pittsburgh is absolutely desperate for. Pittsburgh broke its typical trends when hiring McCarthy, and an anonymous head coach spoke about the new hire for the Steelers with The Athletic.
"Everyone expected a long-term hire, but Mike can be a great hire for the short-term to get the organization in the right direction, with or without [Aaron] Rodgers; he will be good to give the offense an identity," the anonymous coach said.
The Steelers typically hire younger individuals to be the head coach of the team, that was the case with Tomlin, Bill Cowher, and Chuck Noll. Those three were all in their 30s when they were hired by the franchise, and they all had defensive backgrounds. This time around, McCarthy is 62 years old, and he is known for his offensive mind as mentioned. He has already confirmed that he will be calling the offensive plays during games in 2026.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Steelers head coaches Mike Tomlin (left) and Bill Cowher (right).
Due to McCarthy's age, this hire can be seen as a short-term move. He signed a five-year deal, which would have him as the coach through the 2030 season. He is expected to get the offense moving in the right direction, and that is going to start with upgrading some personnel. The Steelers are primed to take a wide receiver in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, which is something that McCarthy should be pushing for. Pittsburgh also needs to figure out the situation at quarterback. McCarthy coached Aaron Rodgers for a long time while with the Green Bay Packers, and a reunion seems to be on the table.
The fan base in Pittsburgh is very split on a potential return for Rodgers. A lot of fans would like to see the organization take a step forward at the position, and that could be by doing something as simple as starting Will Howard. If he doesn't work out, the team will likely at least have a great draft pick in 2027. If Howard excels, then Pittsburgh has something to build around. Mason Rudolph is the only other quarterback currently under contract, and the franchise already knows what he can do.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is introduced at his introductory press conference.
Steelers' Mike McCarthy Can Turn The Offense Around
A lot of the success for Pittsburgh in 2026 is going to come down to quarterback play, but fans should be optimistic as McCarthy usually operates a top offense. Pittsburgh should be adding some more weapons throughout the 2026 offseason, and the offense will take a step forward from what fans have gotten used to seeing in recent years. The organization has no intentions of losing, and the hiring of McCarthy shows that the organization still believes it is in "win now" mode. The Steelers will operate as usual as the franchise tries to get over the hump that is the Wild Card Round of the postseason.
What do you think about the comments regarding McCarthy? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation