The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into training camp with a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. Clearly, there will be some huge changes that come along with that, like new drills, expectations, scheming, and practice times. Training camp is typically a time for teams to install new game plans, build a culture, and establish expectations for players set by the coaching staff. This year is extra special because not only is there a new head coach, but there is also an almost entirely new coaching staff from top to bottom.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy looks on during voluntary veteran minicamp during the 2026 offseason.
Mike McCarthy's offseason activities thus far have been very detail-oriented. When it comes to footwork and getting back to some of the basics, McCarthy has not taken any aspect of the game for granted. He wants his squad to be fundamentally sound as he installs his schemes. An offensive-minded coach is atypical for the Steelers, and this should only bring more excitement to a camp that is looking completely different than in years past.
One of the surface-level changes for camp is practice times. The Steelers under former head coach Mike Tomlin didn't typically start practice until the late afternoon, but McCarthy has wanted to get started with practices around 11 a.m. While this may seem minuscule, it's just one of a new head coach's philosophies that could take the team to the next level. In a press conference held on the first day of 2026's edition of training camp, McCarthy revealed the thought process behind his earlier start times.
"There's a systematic approach to everything that we do. I like to get up in the morning; I believe in regularity, that's the way my father raised me. You get your heavy lifting done in the morning... I believe in starting early. We wanna have our meetings. That gives us the ability to not meet as long in the mornings, because the guys did the work in the spring. They paid the price of learning this scheme. When I talk to the team, we won't install, we'll recall. We'll have a walkthrough in the gymnasium, and then we'll get up and go get it. That's why we practice when we practice. If I felt like they were ready to go and have all 90 ready, then we would practice at 7:30," McCarthy said.
This new standard will allow McCarthy to get everything that's needed to be seen, like individual and team drills done early, so coaches can break down film and see what's needed for the next day. This also allows players to review tape post-practice to see what they need to work on. McCarthy's new way of doing things should be a huge change for some of the Steelers' veterans too.
This should light a fire under the bellies of the vets, which is something that the team needs. These guys will be leading a young core in hopes of being Super Bowl contenders. McCarthy's very structured way of doing things is maintaining his attention to detail. This has been his mantra throughout the course of the offseason, and should play an important part in how the Steelers go about preparing for regular season matchups.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands in front of the media to answer questions as the team goes through 2026 mandatory minicamp workouts in Pittsburgh, PA.
McCarthy hasn't taken anything lightly as he goes about his third head coaching gig in the NFL. His hometown team has given him motivation to turn the team around after nearly a decade of being right in the thick of it, yet no playoff wins to show for it.
The Steelers Training Camp Will Answer A Lot Of Questions
With a new head coach, there are many differences between the current and the past, but when it comes to player evaluation and the direction of the team, this camp in particular will answer a lot. There are a plethora of position battles and players who are on the fringe of making the team, but this camp specifically will prove what McCarthy and his staff value in certain players at various positions.
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