The winds of change are blowing through Pittsburgh, and they’re bringing a familiar face with them. With Mike Tomlin stepping away after a storied run, new head coach Mike McCarthy is wasting no time reshaping the Steelers in his image - and that starts with the coaching staff.
McCarthy’s vision is clear: bring in trusted, experienced voices to reestablish a culture of discipline, toughness, and execution. That effort is already underway, with the additions of Mark Lovat and Grant Thorne - two longtime strength coaches from McCarthy’s Green Bay days - now joining the fold in Pittsburgh.
Lovat, in particular, is a name that carries weight. After 25 years in Green Bay, including a long stint as the Packers’ strength and conditioning coordinator, he brings not only institutional knowledge but also a track record of working with elite players. His presence signals a renewed commitment to player development and physical performance - a foundational piece for any team looking to climb back into contention.
And make no mistake, the Steelers are in need of a reset. Despite making the playoffs nine straight years, they haven’t advanced past the first round in any of them. That kind of stagnation doesn’t sit well in Pittsburgh - and it certainly doesn’t sit well with McCarthy, who’s building a staff designed to push this team past its recent ceiling.
The next piece of that puzzle could be special teams. According to reports, the Steelers are working to bring in Danny Crossman as their new special teams coordinator. Crossman’s resume speaks for itself - most recently with the Dolphins, but also with the Bills, Lions, and Panthers - and his reputation as a detail-oriented, high-energy coach fits the mold of what McCarthy is assembling.
Special teams might not grab headlines, but they win games - especially in tight playoff matchups. Crossman’s arrival would mark a serious investment in an area that often separates good teams from great ones.
On the defensive side, the Steelers are expected to finalize a deal with Patrick Graham to take over as defensive coordinator. Graham, who’s led defenses for the Raiders, Giants, and Dolphins, brings a sharp mind and a flexible scheme - and like Lovat, he shares a Green Bay connection with McCarthy from their 2018 season together.
Graham’s task won’t be easy, but the tools are there. With stars like T.J.
Watt and Cameron Heyward anchoring the front seven, this defense has the potential to dominate - it just needs the right structure and consistency. That’s where Graham comes in.
If he can get this unit firing on all cylinders, the Steelers could return to their identity as a team that wins with defense and grit.
What McCarthy is doing isn’t just a staff overhaul - it’s a culture reset. He’s surrounding himself with people he trusts, coaches who’ve been in the trenches and know what it takes to win. It’s a calculated move to bring stability, experience, and a fresh perspective to a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for too long.
The Steelers aren’t rebuilding - they’re retooling. And with McCarthy leading the charge, backed by seasoned voices like Lovat, Crossman, and Graham, they’re laying the groundwork for a new era in Pittsburgh. One that blends the franchise’s storied tradition with a modern, no-nonsense approach to winning football.