The Green Bay Packers are an important chapter in Mike McCarthy’s coaching career, and the Super Bowl-winning coach was recently put on the spot about his former team.
Now leading the Pittsburgh Steelers, McCarthy faced an amusing question about whether his new position is better than coaching Green Bay or the Dallas Cowboys.
The veteran coach apparently had no interest in creating controversy, as his response drew a smile.
“You trying to get me in trouble?” McCarthy said, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Chris Adamski.
The seven-word answer allowed McCarthy to sidestep a potentially awkward comparison involving three of the NFL’s most storied franchises.
And bearing in mind everything he accomplished in Green Bay, it’s understandable why he wouldn’t want to make that distinction.
McCarthy Avoids Comparing Steelers to Packers
McCarthy’s lighthearted response came as the Steelers prepared for Sunday’s international matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France.
Pittsburgh enters the Oct. 25 contest with a 4-2 record, giving McCarthy a promising start to his first season with the organization.
The 62-year-old coach also has personal ties to Pittsburgh, having grown up in the area before embarking on his NFL coaching career.
However, his accomplishments with the Packers are tricky to overlook.
McCarthy coached Green Bay for 13 seasons from 2006 through 2018, compiling a 125-77-2 regular-season record and leading the franchise to nine playoff appearances.
His crowning achievement came following the 2010 season, when the Packers defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Under McCarthy, Green Bay also reached four NFC Championship Games and captured six NFC North titles.
He was instrumental in the development of Aaron Rodgers, who became one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks during their partnership.
Via the Steelers’ official coaching biography, McCarthy and Rodgers combined for a 100-57-1 record during their time together.
Rodgers also threw 337 touchdown passes during that stretch.
McCarthy’s Packers History Adds Intrigue to Coaching Comparison
McCarthy’s subsequent tenure in Dallas also featured regular-season success.
He guided the Cowboys from 2020 through 2024, producing three consecutive 12-win seasons between 2021 and 2023.
But his time in Dallas included a painful postseason encounter with his former franchise.
During the January 2024 NFC wild-card round, quarterback Jordan Love powered the Packers to a stunning 48-32 victory over McCarthy’s Cowboys.
Love finished with 272 passing yards and three touchdowns, nailing a top-career performance.
The defeat ended Dallas’ season despite its 12-5 regular-season record and No. 2 seed in the NFC.
As of late, McCarthy is pursuing another championship with the Steelers, the same organization his Packers defeated to capture the Lombardi Trophy more than 15 years ago.
Pittsburgh hired him in January 2026 to lead his hometown franchise.
Although he expressed his emotional link to Pittsburgh during his introductory press conference, when confronted with a direct comparison between Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Dallas, he chose humor over handing out a verdict.
Former Packers’ 13-Year HC Responds to Loaded Question