Mike McCarthy is eyeing a return to the NFL sidelines, and he’s not just looking-he’s interviewing.
After taking the 2025 season off, the veteran head coach is now in the mix for two high-profile vacancies: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans. For McCarthy, one of those jobs would be more than just a new opportunity-it would be a homecoming.
Pittsburgh Possibility: A Return to His Roots
McCarthy is set to meet with the Steelers this week about their head coaching vacancy, a position that opened up after Mike Tomlin stepped down. That move marked the end of an era in Pittsburgh-Tomlin never had a losing season in 19 years, but the playoff success had dried up, with the team’s last postseason win coming in 2016.
For McCarthy, the Steelers job isn’t just about football-it’s personal. He’s a Pittsburgh native, and his family roots run deep in the city.
His father served both as a firefighter and a police officer in Pittsburgh, and also owned a neighborhood bar-Joe McCarthy’s Bar-that became something of a local landmark. The McCarthy name still carries weight in the Steel City.
And there’s history here, too. The last time the Steelers reached the Super Bowl was in the 2010 season-when they faced off against McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers. That game ended in a 31-25 Packers win, giving McCarthy his first and only Super Bowl ring, with Aaron Rodgers under center.
Now, Rodgers is fresh off his first season with the Steelers and is set to hit free agency. At 42, his future is uncertain-retirement, a new team, or maybe, just maybe, a reunion with his old coach in a city that knows them both well.
Titans Talk: A Second Interview in Tennessee
While the Pittsburgh storyline tugs at the heartstrings, McCarthy is also very much in the running for the Titans’ head coaching job. Tennessee confirmed that McCarthy is one of eight candidates to receive a second interview, signaling serious interest from both sides.
McCarthy first spoke with the Titans back in December, and he's now part of a competitive field that includes names like Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who’s also drawing attention from other teams.
The Titans are in the midst of a rebuild. They fired head coach Brian Callahan in October after a 1-5 start to his second season. Interim coach Mike McCoy finished out the year, but the team stumbled to a 3-14 record, earning them the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Whoever takes over in Tennessee will be expected to develop quarterback Cam Ward, last year’s No. 1 overall pick. That’s no small task, but McCarthy has a track record of working with quarterbacks-Rodgers, Brett Favre, and more recently, Dak Prescott in Dallas.
McCarthy’s Coaching Journey
McCarthy brings 18 years of NFL head coaching experience to the table-13 with the Packers and five with the Cowboys. He’s led teams in two of the league’s most storied franchises and now could be eyeing a third.
After parting ways with the Cowboys following the 2024 season, McCarthy moved back to Wisconsin and stayed connected to the game with a weekly segment on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, where he offered his insights on the league.
Now, he’s ready to get back in the trenches. Whether it’s a return to his Pittsburgh roots or a fresh start in Tennessee, McCarthy’s name is back in the coaching conversation-and with his experience, pedigree, and quarterback acumen, it’s no surprise.