The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a ton of work to do before Mike McCarthy has "fixed" what Mike Tomlin couldn't. However, they are off to a promising start, and former Steelers safety Ryan Clark recently explained exactly why he believes McCarthy is getting better execution from this team than Tomlin did. Pittsburgh enters its bye week at 6-2, and Clark has noticed a difference in how the team operates. He believes that change is worth acknowledging.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy (left) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Tomlin's legacy in Pittsburgh is undeniable, but even respected coaches can reach a point where their message no longer resonates the way it once did. McCarthy inherited a talented roster and immediately faced the challenge of establishing his own standards. The early results have given former players reason to notice.
Clark, who played for Tomlin, discussed the coaching change on The Pivot Podcast. His perspective is particularly interesting because he wasn't speaking as an outsider taking shots at a former coach. Instead, he suggested that both Tomlin and the Steelers may have needed a fresh start.
"I can say this because I played for Mike Tomlin," Clark said on The Pivot Podcast. "As I felt like his voice was getting stale inside the locker room, I thought maybe both could use a change of scenery. The team and Mike Tomlin. This team under Mike McCarthy seems more locked in on the details. They seem to have a better vision and understanding of who they need to be."
That is a revealing assessment from someone who experienced Tomlin's leadership firsthand. Clark isn't arguing that Tomlin suddenly forgot how to coach or that McCarthy has already accomplished more in Pittsburgh. His point is that familiarity can eventually work against a message, even when the person delivering it has earned tremendous respect. Sometimes a different voice creates a new level of accountability.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers have shown encouraging signs of that shift, particularly when games demand patience and discipline. McCarthy's offense hasn't been flawless, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has acknowledged that Pittsburgh has left points on the field. Still, winning isn't only about producing highlight plays. It also requires understanding situations, executing assignments and finding ways to attack opponents without abandoning the team's strengths.
Clark highlighted a specific example involving tight end Darnell Washington. Rather than discussing offensive creativity in vague terms, he pointed to Pittsburgh using the same concept from opposite sides of the formation. For Clark, that adjustment illustrated a coaching staff comfortable with its identity.
"Offensively, the creativity, there were two passes to Darnell Washington, which you are talking about," Clark said. "They are the same exact play. They ran it to the right side of the field the first time and the left side of the field the next time."
The detail may sound simple, but that is part of what makes it meaningful. An offense doesn't need a completely new playbook every week to keep a defense uncomfortable. It needs to understand what works, recognize how opponents react and execute familiar concepts in different ways. Clark sees those habits as evidence that Pittsburgh is becoming more intentional.
Steelers' Mike McCarthy Understands His Own Vision
Clark also offered a broader assessment of the team's situational performance. He believes McCarthy's group understands what kind of football it wants to play and is translating that understanding into results.
"This team knows who they are, and they have been executing in situational football like I haven't seen from the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent memory," Clark said.
That praise carries weight, but eight games cannot settle every question about the coaching transition. The Steelers still need to sustain their execution against stronger competition, improve offensive consistency and show they can deliver when the postseason arrives. Tomlin's tenure deserves more than a comparison based on one encouraging stretch.
Do you agree with Ryan Clark that Mike McCarthy is getting better execution from the Pittsburgh Steelers than Mike Tomlin did? Share your thoughts with me on X at @anthonyghalkias.
#SteelerNation