Steelers’ Coaching Overhaul Underway: McCarthy Wastes No Time Modernizing Staff Structure
Mike McCarthy hasn’t coached a snap for the Pittsburgh Steelers yet, but his fingerprints are already all over the franchise - and it’s not just about scheme or play-calling. In just a few short weeks, McCarthy has begun reshaping the Steelers’ coaching infrastructure, addressing a long-standing issue that quietly lingered during the Mike Tomlin era: the size and scope of the coaching staff.
For years, the Steelers operated with one of the leanest coaching staffs in the NFL. Under Tomlin, Pittsburgh typically kept things tight - three coordinators, fewer than 10 position coaches, and a handful of assistants and quality control staffers. It was a minimalist approach in a league that has increasingly leaned into specialization and layered coaching hierarchies.
But McCarthy? He’s already signaling a shift.
We don’t yet have the full picture of what McCarthy’s staff will look like, but the early signs are telling. The Steelers have begun updating both the job titles and, presumably, the pay scale associated with those roles. In other words, this isn’t just a cosmetic change - it’s a structural one.
Let’s break it down.
Under Tomlin, elevated coaching titles were rare. John Mitchell was the lone assistant head coach from 2007 until his retirement in 2022 - a role that went unfilled after he stepped away.
On offense, Mike Sullivan briefly held the title of senior offensive assistant in 2023 after being replaced as quarterbacks coach. Defensively, the Steelers used the senior assistant designation a bit more meaningfully, with Teryl Austin (2019-21) and Brian Flores (2022) both holding the title of senior defensive assistant.
But once Flores left for Minnesota, that role was left vacant too.
Perhaps most notably, the Steelers never adopted the increasingly common titles of offensive or defensive run/pass game coordinators - positions that many teams use to bridge the gap between position coaches and full coordinators. Around the league, these roles have become vital for game planning, opponent scouting, and player development. In Pittsburgh, they were simply absent.
That’s already changing under McCarthy.
Joe Whitt Jr. has been named assistant head coach - a move that brings experience and leadership to the top of the staff. Jason Simmons steps in as defensive passing game coordinator, while Frank Cignetti Jr. takes on the role of senior offensive assistant. And in a new wrinkle, Steve Scarnecchia is being brought in as the team’s chief of staff - a position not previously used in Pittsburgh.
And McCarthy might not be done. The Steelers have already interviewed candidates for an offensive passing game coordinator role, which would bring the number of elevated coaching titles to five - a dramatic shift from recent years, where the team had none.
But it’s not just about titles. The hires themselves reflect a clear intention to bring in seasoned, high-level coaches to match those upgraded roles.
Whitt was most recently a defensive coordinator in Washington, with Simmons serving under him in the same passing game coordinator role he now holds in Pittsburgh. Cignetti is no stranger to the NFL either, having served as an offensive coordinator in multiple stops.
Even at the position coach level, McCarthy is targeting individuals whose résumés reflect a deeper level of experience - a sign that the Steelers are investing in coaching depth across the board, not just at the top.
Now, whether the Steelers’ historically small staff was due to Tomlin’s preferences or budget constraints from ownership is unclear. But regardless of the reason, McCarthy is clearly steering the organization in a new direction - one that aligns with the modern NFL, where coaching staffs are expansive, collaborative, and specialized.
It’s a significant pivot for a franchise that’s often leaned on tradition. And while McCarthy hasn’t yet called a play or led a practice in Pittsburgh, this early move suggests he’s here to do more than maintain the status quo.
The Steelers are evolving - and McCarthy’s already making sure the foundation is built for today’s game, not yesterday’s.