The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through a ton of changes as a franchise with all of the coaching turnover that has gone on since the end of the 2025 season. Mike Tomlin stepping down from his role as head coach was a surprise to some, but it was probably the right decision. The organization made it clear to his staff that they could look for work elsewhere, but some of the coaches that were hired under Tomlin's tenure have stuck around and landed gigs under new head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has his own way of doing things, and that is something fans will get to see once training camp begins in a little under a month.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers QB Drew Allar works with new head coach Mike McCarthy during 2026 rookie minicamp.
This is the most change the organization has gone through in quite some time, and a lot of fans are excited due to the newness of everything. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff operates under McCarthy, especially with the interesting dynamic of him also calling the offensive plays. Brian Angelichio is the offensive coordinator, but he will be helping more with the game-planning rather than the play calling on game days. Insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and he spoke about the dynamic between the two coaches.
Kaboly eventually questioned whether or not Tomlin would take other voices on the staff into account, and he does not believe that will be a problem with McCarthy.
"I think having multiple voices is good," Kaboly said. "The question is, I don't know with Tomlin, I'm sure he had multiple voices, but does he take them into account? Or is it always, 'my way or the highway.' It seems like, at least from what we've seen so far, McCarthy is open to everything. He'll be able to take what people say and then apply it to what he does."
Kaboly neither confirmed nor denied how Tomlin handled input from his coaches, but it seems like McCarthy has already proven to be a bit more open-minded in that regard. That is likely a good thing for the Steelers, but only time will tell based on how the 2026 season unfolds.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in Jacksonville, FL.
Coaches have different styles, and that is the difference between Tomlin and McCarthy. Tomlin had a lot of systems in place throughout his nearly 20 seasons in Pittsburgh, and his teams played the game a certain way. There was no need to take thoughts from a bunch of other coaches on the staff. Tomlin also wasn't calling the offense or the defense. He was a players' coach, and the way his staff was set up made it so he was the one that had to give his thoughts to the coordinators throughout the week leading up to a game and during a contest.
Steelers' Mike McCarthy Will Be Interesting To Keep An Eye On In 2026
McCarthy has been out of coaching for an entire season, and that is not the first time he has taken a break in between jobs. He took a year off from coaching between his time with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, and the same thing happened this time around. The coach is probably going to have to get readjusted to being on the sideline and leading a team, and it will also be interesting to watch him get back into calling plays.
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New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy smiles while on the sideline during a professional football game while he was the leader for the Dallas Cowboys.
That is quite the balancing act for him to take on after being out of coaching for a full season, and it is something that fans will be keeping an eye on. A head coach that calls his own plays is new for Pittsburgh, but it is something there has been more and more of around the NFL.
What do you think about this supposed difference between Tomlin and McCarthy? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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