The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the verge of making a bold move, closing in on a deal to hire Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, according to league sources. The decision comes just under two weeks after Mike Tomlin stepped down, ending a remarkable 19-year run on the Pittsburgh sideline.
McCarthy, 62, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He’s best known for his time leading the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, and, of course, for hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the 2010 season-ironically, after defeating these very Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Now, he’s poised to return home. A Pittsburgh native who grew up in the shadow of the Chuck Noll dynasty, McCarthy’s coaching journey is coming full circle.
This hire marks a significant shift in philosophy for a franchise that’s long valued youth, defensive acumen, and long-term stability in its head coaches. Consider this: since 1969, the Steelers have had just three head coaches-Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin.
All three were hired in their 30s, all three had defensive backgrounds, and all three stepped away before turning 60. McCarthy breaks that mold in just about every way.
At 62, he becomes the oldest head coach in Steelers history and the second-oldest in the NFL, trailing only Andy Reid. He also becomes the franchise’s first offensive-minded head coach in over five decades. That’s no small pivot for a team whose identity has long been tied to hard-nosed defense and continuity on the sidelines.
But McCarthy’s résumé speaks for itself. Over 18 seasons as a head coach, he’s racked up 174 wins, 112 losses, and 2 ties, with a postseason record of 11-11.
He’s taken teams to the playoffs in 12 of those 18 seasons. While both of his previous tenures ended in firings-Green Bay let him go in 2018 after a 4-7-1 start, and Dallas moved on after a 7-10 campaign in 2024-there’s no denying his track record of success and his deep experience in building offenses.
That offensive pedigree may be exactly why Pittsburgh is turning to him now. The Steelers haven’t been able to find a true successor to Ben Roethlisberger, and the quarterback carousel has been spinning ever since.
McCarthy has spent his career working closely with some of the best to ever do it-Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott. That’s a list that speaks to his ability to develop and manage high-level quarterback play, something the Steelers desperately need.
It’s also worth noting that McCarthy isn’t walking into this job without familiar faces in the building. Back during his stint as the offensive coordinator in New Orleans (2000-2004), he worked alongside two young staffers: Omar Khan and Andy Weidl.
Today, those two are running the Steelers’ front office as GM and assistant GM, respectively. That kind of pre-existing trust and alignment could be key as the organization navigates its next chapter.
Of course, there are still questions-especially at quarterback. The Steelers are expected to have 11 draft picks this year, but the incoming QB class isn’t looking quite as deep as it once did.
That could complicate the search for a long-term answer under center. Still, McCarthy’s presence may be enough to draw interest from veteran quarterbacks looking for a fresh start.
And yes, Aaron Rodgers’ name has been floated-again. The 42-year-old reportedly once told Jets officials that McCarthy would be one of the few coaches he’d consider playing for again.
That’s not to say a reunion is imminent, but it does add an intriguing wrinkle to the conversation. Rodgers’ future is always a mystery, but if there’s a coach who could pull him back into the fold, it might just be the one who helped him win it all.
For now, the Steelers are betting on experience, offensive vision, and a hometown connection. McCarthy’s arrival signals a new era in Pittsburgh-one that looks a little different from the past, but could be exactly what the franchise needs to move forward.