Steelers' Mike McCarthy Makes Honest Admission About Trade Deadline As Omar Khan Weighs Moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers are less than a day away from the NFL trade deadline, and the man running the team on the field is not losing sleep over it. The deadline hits at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and Pittsburgh has been linked to wide receivers for weeks. On Monday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy made it clear who will make the call. He is leaving those decisions to General Manager Omar Khan and team president Art Rooney II, while he keeps his focus on the 6-2 roster he already has.

McCarthy spoke with reporters on Monday for the first time since the bye week. When the conversation turned to the deadline, he admitted it has never been something he spends much time on, according to Steelers.com's Brian Batko.

"I spent a decade in my life as a head coach when I didn't even know when the trade deadline was," McCarthy said.

That does not mean he is against a move. McCarthy said the Steelers would welcome anyone who can help them win, and he made it clear he trusts the people in charge of those calls.

"I have great confidence in Omar and Art, if there's something there, that we'll do the right thing."

He also kept the door open for an addition. "If we had someone that's going to help us win, I think everybody would be for that. It's about winning," McCarthy said. At the same time, he told reporters it is "very important for me as the head coach to keep my eye on the target." In other words, the target this week is Cincinnati, not the phone lines.

McCarthy also understands why fans are watching the clock. "I get it, everybody wants to improve their roster," he said. But he added that his job this week is about the players who are already in the building.

"I worry about the ones that are here, coach the ones that are here, and keep building what we've got going," McCarthy said.

Steelers Have Been Busy Exploring The Trade Market

Khan has not been quiet. SteelerNation reported last week on the five wide receivers Khan has explored, and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been one of the most talked-about names linked to Pittsburgh. The Steelers have already missed out on one target, as the Jacksonville Jaguars landed safety Jessie Bates, a move SteelerNation covered when Khan lost out on the Pro Bowl safety.

Wide receiver has been the biggest question. Michael Pittman Jr. has been on injured reserve with a foot injury since early October, and Roman Wilson is also on IR. The good news for Pittsburgh is that Pittman may not be far away.

"I think Michael is getting close," McCarthy said Monday in his weekly press conference, posted on the team's YouTube channel. He added that Pittman's Friday workout went well and that the team hopes to do more with him on Tuesday and Wednesday. McCarthy also said the Steelers should "be healthier than we've been in a while" coming out of the bye.

That matters for how Khan approaches Tuesday. If Pittman returns soon, the Steelers would be adding a starting receiver back to the lineup without giving up a draft pick. A trade would only make sense if the price is right, and SteelerNation has reported that Khan has one major condition for a potential receiver trade.

McCarthy also pointed out that this team still has plenty of room to grow. He said the Steelers know who they are, have "areas of improvement" and have young players in the starting lineup. "We're a team that can continue to improve, and that's exciting," he said.

There is also a big game to prepare for. The Steelers visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football, and both teams are 6-2. Pittsburgh won the first meeting 30-27, and McCarthy did not hide that a season sweep is on the table. "We've got a chance to sweep the Bengals," he said.

So whether Khan makes a move or stands pat, McCarthy's message was simple. The front office will handle the phones, and the coaches will handle the team. By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Steelers fans will know whether that roster includes a new face.

This story was produced with the help of AI and reviewed by SteelerNation editors.

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