Mike McCarthy didn’t exactly soften the message after a rough stretch, and the line that will stick with plenty of listeners is the one about the team needing to “clean up their house.” That phrase is getting tossed around in all kinds of directions, but the reality from his press conference sounds less dramatic than the reaction.
He had already told the team Thursday morning about playing with emotion, and the broader point was simple enough: the operation needs tidying up. There are assignment issues in the secondary and basic tackling problems that have to be fixed, and that’s the lane this comment belongs in.
The roster, meanwhile, keeps shifting. The Steelers signed safety Sean Murphy-Bunting from the Tampa Bay Practice Squad and added linebacker Marte Mapu to the Practice Squad.
Murphy-Bunting missed the entire 2025 season because of an injury, but his career still includes 65 starts in 82 games, mostly with the Bucs and Atlanta Falcons. Mapu has 10 starts for the Patriots over the last three seasons.
On the other side of the ledger, Derrick Harmon was placed on IR and cornerback Donieko Slaughter was released.
There’s also a new batch of names drawing attention on the practice field. While the spotlight usually lands on the higher-drafted rookies, Coach McCarthy gave strong praise yesterday to Daylen Everette and Robert Spears-Jennings. It sounds early, but both could be pushing their way into starting roles in the secondary before long.
Elsewhere around the week, the SCB Steelers Podcast presented by DEK Roofing Inc is set to return to its usual Thursday night slot at 10pmET. The show will stream live on YouTube and on ‘X,’ with plans to talk through the loss in Cleveland, the changes the Steelers franchise needs to make, and the upcoming matchup with the Colts.
And a few other notes from the week: “Self-Scouting” has been around for a long time, and Mike Tomlin used it during BYE weeks and other extended breaks. The NFL suspended two officials for their conduct this past weekend, which was part of a messy stretch for the officiating crew that called more penalties than any other weekend in recent history.
“Does anyone know what pass interference is? Asking for a friend…” The Atlanta Falcons are rolling right now, and the feeling is that the Steelers caught them at the right time.
As for uniform nostalgia, “Would kids these days have survived if teams only had a home and away uniform? Strange days…” And after all that, the column ends with this: “Look at that!
I went the whole column and didn’t mention the guy we just traded!”
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]