Mike McCarthy has spent the preseason sorting through the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, but his biggest message before cutdown day wasn’t about who stays. It was about how the team handles the ones who go.
After the preseason finale, McCarthy sounded worn down by the reality of the moment. The roster battles are nearly over, the 53-man decisions are looming, and he made it clear the night before cuts wasn’t going to be a restful one.
“I’m anxious about what’s in front of me, so I’m probably not gonna sleep tonight. I know what tomorrow brings,” McCarthy said at his post-game presser.
That kind of honesty stands out in a week when NFL coaches usually hide behind the usual language about “tough decisions.” McCarthy didn’t do that. He talked like a coach thinking about the players attached to every move, not just the depth chart that comes out on the other side.
The Steelers’ final decisions carry real weight for players fighting for backup roles, special teams spots and the last few places on the roster. Those are the jobs that can turn on one play, one rep, one night. And once cutdown day hits, somebody’s dream gets pushed back.
McCarthy said the Rooney family’s expectations matter as he keeps putting his stamp on the organization, and he stressed that the process has to be handled the right way.
“But you gotta make sure we keep people the same way going out as when they come in. It’s the right thing to do,” McCarthy said.
That won’t soften the blow for players who get released, but it does say something about how McCarthy wants this program to operate. A respectful exit can matter later, especially for fringe players who might end up back on the practice squad, back in the building as an injury replacement, or back on the phone midseason when a team needs help.
So when the transaction list starts rolling in, don’t assume every name is gone for good. The Steelers have spent months evaluating where everybody fits, and McCarthy’s message made it clear that even the players who don’t survive cutdown day should still be treated like they mattered.
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