The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning the page on a historic era and bringing in a familiar face to lead the next chapter. Mike McCarthy is expected to be named the team’s new head coach, stepping into the role vacated by Mike Tomlin and becoming just the fourth head coach the franchise has hired since 1969.
That’s not a typo - four head coaches in nearly six decades. Stability has always been part of the Steelers’ DNA, and McCarthy’s arrival signals a new direction while still honoring the franchise’s commitment to experience and consistency.
McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, returns to his hometown after taking the 2025 season off. He brings with him one of the most accomplished résumés among active coaches.
Over 18 seasons as a head coach - 13 with the Green Bay Packers and five with the Dallas Cowboys - McCarthy has racked up a 174-112-2 regular-season record and gone 11-11 in the playoffs. He’s no stranger to postseason football, having led teams to the playoffs 12 times, including an impressive eight-season streak from 2009 to 2016.
Of course, Steelers fans remember McCarthy for more than just his win totals - he was the man on the opposite sideline in Super Bowl XLV, when his Packers defeated Pittsburgh. Now, he’s tasked with guiding the franchise back to that stage.
McCarthy’s offensive background is a notable shift for a franchise that has long favored defensive-minded, first-time head coaches. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin all fit that mold.
McCarthy, on the other hand, is a seasoned offensive architect who’s helped shape the careers of elite quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. Rodgers won two MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP under McCarthy’s watch, while Prescott posted a league-leading 36 touchdown passes in 2023 - arguably his best season as a pro.
Interestingly, Rodgers himself played a role in Pittsburgh’s 2025 campaign. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer suited up for the Steelers last season and contributed to the team’s NFL-record 22nd consecutive non-losing season. Whether Rodgers returns for a 22nd season remains to be seen, but the door appears open if he chooses to run it back.
If he doesn’t, quarterback will once again be the biggest question mark in Pittsburgh - a familiar theme since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. The franchise is still searching for a long-term answer under center, and that search could intensify depending on Rodgers’ decision.
McCarthy inherits a roster that’s a mix of grizzled veterans and promising young talent. Defensive stalwarts like T.J.
Watt, Jalen Ramsey, and Cameron Heyward are all on the wrong side of 30, but they still bring leadership and production. On the other side of the age spectrum, offensive linemen Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick, along with defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, give the Steelers a young core to build around.
The team is coming off its third straight 10-7 season and its first AFC North title since 2020. But the playoff frustration continues - Pittsburgh hasn’t won a postseason game in nine years, and this year’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round was a stark reminder that regular-season success only goes so far.
Tomlin’s departure marks the end of an era. In 19 seasons, he never had a losing record, won a Super Bowl, reached another, and led the Steelers to the playoffs 13 times. Following in those footsteps won’t be easy, but McCarthy has the pedigree, experience, and offensive acumen to take on the challenge.
In a coaching cycle that’s seen 10 NFL jobs open up, only four remain unfilled - Arizona, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. The Steelers didn’t wait long to make their move, and they’re betting that McCarthy’s veteran presence can bring stability and spark to a franchise that’s long been defined by both.