When Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it sent shockwaves through the NFL. Tomlin had been the face of the franchise for nearly two decades - a steady presence in a league where turnover is the norm. So when the Steelers pivoted to Mike McCarthy as his successor, it raised more than a few eyebrows.
McCarthy, fresh off a rocky ending in Dallas, wasn’t exactly the bold, forward-thinking hire many expected from a franchise at a crossroads. But Pittsburgh made its priorities clear: experience, stability, and a win-now mindset.
McCarthy checks all those boxes. He’s a Super Bowl-winning head coach with a long track record of success.
And in a hiring cycle short on proven candidates, it’s not surprising he landed another top job.
What was surprising? That it was this job.
McCarthy’s introductory press conference hit the right notes. He spoke with conviction about the opportunity, the franchise’s storied legacy, and his vision for the team.
It was clear the moment meant a lot to him. But while he looked comfortable behind the mic, one revelation immediately stirred unease among Steelers fans: McCarthy will be calling the plays.
That’s a decision that comes with baggage.
Cowboys fans are all too familiar with McCarthy’s tendencies as a play-caller - and not all of them are fond memories. His offensive philosophy leans heavily on the West Coast tradition, emphasizing rhythm, timing, and a strong run game to set up the pass.
In theory, that sounds fine. In practice, it often led to predictability and a lack of creativity - especially when it mattered most.
“I’m a believer in the tradition of the West Coast offense,” McCarthy said during his presser. “The offense needs to be built to make the quarterback successful... and that starts with running the football.”
It’s a classic McCarthy line - rooted in fundamentals, but maybe a step behind today’s offensive evolution. In recent years, the most dynamic NFL offenses have leaned into pre-snap motion, misdirection, and tempo. Under McCarthy, the Cowboys were near the bottom of the league in motion rate and pre-snap movement - two staples of modern offensive design.
Yes, the Cowboys had strong statistical finishes under his watch. In 2023, they led the league in scoring and ranked fifth in total yards.
But context matters. The offense also ranked fourth in points in 2022 under Kellen Moore, and the common thread through both seasons was Dak Prescott.
When Prescott is healthy, Dallas has consistently fielded a top-tier attack - regardless of who’s calling the plays.
The concern in Dallas wasn’t about regular-season production. It was about how the offense fared when defenses had time to game-plan - in the playoffs, when schematic edges matter most.
Too often, McCarthy’s offense failed to adapt. It lacked the flexibility to counter punch when opponents took away the first read or stuffed the run.
And now, that same system is headed to Pittsburgh.
To make things even more interesting, McCarthy hinted at another potential reunion - this time with Aaron Rodgers. Yes, that Aaron Rodgers.
The one who last played a full season in 2021 and hasn’t looked like his MVP self in years. Rodgers still processes the game at an elite level, but his mobility is limited, and his preference for quick throws can stifle vertical concepts.
It’s hard to imagine a 2026 offense being built around him and still thriving.
Yet McCarthy didn’t shut the door on the idea.
That possibility - McCarthy calling plays for Rodgers again, eight years after their final season together in Green Bay - feels like a time warp. And not necessarily the good kind.
Steelers fans hoping for a fresh start might be bracing for a familiar script: second-and-long runs, conservative route trees, and an offense that feels like it’s stuck in the past. There’s talent on this roster, and McCarthy does bring a level of credibility and structure. But to make this work, he’ll need to evolve - not just lean on what he’s always done.
Because in today’s NFL, doing things the way they’ve always been done isn’t enough.