The Pittsburgh Steelers have undergone a massive coaching staff change. Long-time head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down after another playoff loss, this time to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round this past January. He has since moved on to NBC as an analyst, and the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to fill his role. McCarthy has formed his coaching staff and just underwent his first draft process at the helm in Pittsburgh. It will be a huge change in culture for a team that was run by a defensive-minded head coach, and is now entering a new era of an offense-first coaching style.
Andy Clayton-King / AP Photo
Mike McCarthy is celebrating with quarterback Dak Prescott after a big play in Dallas during his time as the Cowboys' head coach.
Tomlin spent 19 seasons as the head coach of the Steelers. During his tenure, he won a Super Bowl in the 2008-09 season and appeared in another one in the 2010-11 season. He coached Pittsburgh to all non-losing seasons and, up until his departure, was the longest-tenured active coach in the NFL. His success was evident; however, in his final few years with the team, there was a clear level of mediocrity. The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2017, and while Tomlin helped get them there frequently, there haven't been the meaningful wins in quite some time.
This level of mediocrity and the optimism of a new coaching staff have Steelers legend James Harrison fired up on the Deebo & Joe podcast. This is a show that he hosts with former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden. Harrison spoke on the great benefits a new staff would bring to the team and what the old regime lacked.
"You can't tell me this staff from top to bottom isn't better than the previous staff that we had. We have people who can coach. You know how many coaches were over there that were just there. You developed this guy or that guy, stop, he was already good before he got there," Harrison said.
Harrison's subtle jab at the previous coaching staff was apparent. McCarthy's staff was picked with intention, and a bode of confidence is a good sign for the way that the organization is headed.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands holding a football with his parents after his introductory press conference to become the next Pittsburgh head coach, before the start of the 2026 offseason.
McCarthy is coming off a year where he spent time away from coaching before getting right back into it with the Steelers. His resume is strong, having even beaten Tomlin in the Super Bowl while he was at the helm for the Green Bay Packers. He most recently was the head guy for the Dallas Cowboys, where he led them to three 12-win seasons in five years. His experience as a winning coach (174-112-2) is what made him an appealing option for the Steelers. He grew up in the area, too, and his offensive-driven approach is something the organization hasn't really seen from a head coach in its history.
The Steelers Have A Lot To Like In This Coaching Staff
McCarthy's coaching staff is deliberately a mixture of veteran coaches and young staff who will hopefully get the most out of a roster with a similar makeup. Pittsburgh has a large youth movement, especially with 10 rookies just being drafted, along with quite a few veteran stars. The goal is to maximize all he can from his experienced players and continue to develop the younger guys. McCarthy will call the plays on offense, something that Tomlin did not do. This complete philosophy shift has many excited and it will be a new era in the Steel City.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy smiles as he addresses the media during his introductory press conference that took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
McCarthy has proven that he can win football games, and that's something that Pittsburgh has done, even with Tomlin. However, getting over the playoff win drought will be something that he'll be tasked with. Currently, the roster, on paper, can be really effective. The organization and McCarthy have filled out the training staff with guys whom he has coached with previously and young minds that can bring the most out of players.
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