Steelers Make a Bold Move with Mike McCarthy Hire - And Not Everyone Thinks It’s a Misstep
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to name Mike McCarthy their next head coach sparked plenty of reaction - and not all of it has been positive. But while the fan response has been mixed, there are some respected voices around the league who believe the move might be exactly what Pittsburgh needs right now.
One of the most vocal supporters? Former NFL linebacker and current FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho, who didn’t just defend the hire - he went all in, calling McCarthy the best head coach in the AFC North.
“To me, this is an adequate replacement. A coach that can come in, win 11 games, win 12 games, be competitive,” Acho said during an appearance on Speakeasy.
“The Browns are still going to be laughable. The Bengals are tethered to Joe Burrow staying healthy, and the Ravens, well, who knows what Jesse Minter’s gonna do.
If we’re being honest, let me go ahead and say it right now - the Steelers have the best coach in the division.”
That’s a bold claim, especially in a division that includes a perennial contender like Baltimore, a high-upside Bengals squad led by Joe Burrow, and a Browns team that’s still trying to find its footing. But Acho’s point isn’t just about the flash - it’s about the floor.
McCarthy brings a level of proven stability that few coaching candidates could match. With a career record of 174-112-2 and a .608 winning percentage, he’s been a consistent presence on the sidelines for nearly two decades. He’s won big, managed big personalities, and navigated the highs and lows of multiple NFL seasons - and that kind of résumé carries weight.
And that’s exactly what Acho believes made McCarthy the right choice for Pittsburgh.
“The reason I like the hire is because you can’t go from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin to some random, little, unproven nobody that might lose,” Acho added. “Mike McCarthy has an incredibly, incredibly, incredibly high floor. I don’t think he has the highest ceiling in the world, but he has a very high floor.”
It’s a fair point. The Steelers have long been the model of coaching continuity in the NFL - just three head coaches since 1969 - and both Cowher and Tomlin brought Super Bowl titles and long-term success to the franchise.
Following that legacy with a first-time head coach would’ve been a major gamble. Instead, Pittsburgh opted for experience, stability, and a coach who’s been in the fire before.
McCarthy also breaks a bit of tradition in Pittsburgh. He’s the first Steelers head coach with an offensive background since Bill Austin in the late 1960s, and the first to bring prior NFL head coaching experience since Buddy Parker, who led the team in the 1950s and early ‘60s. That’s a significant shift for a franchise that’s historically leaned on defensive-minded leaders and internal promotions.
Of course, none of this guarantees success. The AFC North isn’t getting any easier.
Cleveland may still be a mess right now, but they’re hunting for a new head coach and could land someone who finally changes the culture. Baltimore’s Jesse Minter is a first-time head coach, but he inherits a talented roster and a team that’s been a mainstay in the playoff picture.
And if Joe Burrow can stay healthy in Cincinnati, the Bengals are always a threat.
But McCarthy’s track record speaks for itself. He’s not a flashy hire, but he’s a stabilizing one. And in a division full of question marks, that might just be what gives the Steelers an edge.