Dan Orlovsky Sounds the Alarm on Steelers' Potential McCarthy-Rodgers Reunion
The Pittsburgh Steelers are staring down one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory. With Mike Tomlin stepping away after a long and successful run, the franchise is in the thick of its head coaching search - and the decisions they make in the coming weeks could shape the next decade of Steelers football.
One name that’s emerged as a serious candidate? Mike McCarthy.
The veteran coach interviewed in person with the Steelers this week, signaling real interest from both sides. But not everyone is sold on the idea - especially if it comes with another twist: a potential reunion with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky didn’t mince words when discussing that possibility on Get Up.
“Hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing Aaron [Rodgers] back would be the worst decision Pittsburgh could make,” Orlovsky said. “And that is not an indictment on each of them or either of them, individually.
Mike McCarthy’s a really good coach. Obviously, Aaron, one of the all-time greats.
What are we doing, Pittsburgh?”
Let’s unpack that.
McCarthy’s résumé is nothing to scoff at. Over 18 seasons as a head coach, he’s compiled a 174-112-2 record.
He’s a Super Bowl champion - and, in fact, beat the Steelers and Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV. He’s taken teams to the playoffs 11 times.
He’s been a consistent winner.
But that consistency is exactly what Orlovsky sees as the problem.
“They’re gonna be good enough to win 9 or 10 games,” he said. “And they’re not gonna be bad enough to finally get a quarterback. That would be a disastrous thing to do for your future.”
It’s the classic NFL purgatory - not bad enough to bottom out and land a franchise QB in the draft, but not good enough to make a real Super Bowl run. For a team like Pittsburgh, which has long prided itself on contending, that kind of mediocrity could be more damaging than a full rebuild.
Then there’s the Rodgers factor.
The future Hall of Famer still hasn’t publicly committed to playing in 2026, and even if he does return, it’s unclear whether Pittsburgh is on his radar. But the connection to McCarthy - who coached Rodgers in Green Bay from 2006 to 2018 - has naturally sparked speculation. Their relationship had its ups and downs during their time with the Packers, but there’s familiarity there, and that counts for something in a league that often favors known quantities.
Still, Orlovsky’s point is less about personalities and more about direction. Bringing in two aging figures - even ones with championship pedigrees - could trap the Steelers in a cycle of short-term thinking.
It might sell tickets. It might win a few headlines.
But does it get them closer to building a sustainable contender?
That’s the real question facing the Steelers right now.
To be clear, the Steelers haven’t made any decisions yet. McCarthy is just one of several candidates under consideration. But the fact that he’s already had a formal interview shows he’s firmly in the mix.
And while Rodgers’ name hasn’t been officially tied to the Steelers in any concrete way, the mere idea of pairing him with McCarthy again is enough to raise eyebrows - and, in Orlovsky’s case, sound the alarm.
As Pittsburgh charts its next chapter, the choices made this offseason will echo for years to come. The franchise has always prided itself on stability and smart decision-making. Now, with a clean slate and a proud fanbase watching closely, the pressure is on to get this right.