The Pittsburgh Steelers were dealt a major shock early this offseason when Mike Tomlin resigned from his post as the team’s head coach. For the first time in 19 years, the Steelers were forced to begin searching for a new head coach, and that led them to hire Mike McCarthy to come in and be Tomlin’s replacement.
Given all the success he has enjoyed in previous stints with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, McCarthy’s hiring seems like a win for the Steelers. It’s clear this move means quite a bit for the veteran head coach, and after officially being revealed as the team’s new leader, McCarthy broke the silence on his decision to latch on with Pittsburgh.
Mike McCarthy Dishes on Being Hired as Steelers’ New Head Coach
McCarthy is most well-known for his stint as the Packers’ head coach, which lasted from 2006 to 2018. After teaming up with current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy turned Green Bay into a perennial Super Bowl contender. The biggest moment of his tenure came when his Packers took down the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
After taking a year off from coaching in 2019, McCarthy was hired to be the Cowboys’ head coach. While the team was generally successful under his lead, McCarthy and the team parted ways after the 2024 season, as the two sides could not agree on a new contract. That led McCarthy to once again take a year off in 2025.
With so many head coach jobs opening up this offseason, McCarthy quickly emerged as a top candidate for several of them. The Steelers’ job stood out to him, though, largely because of his roots in Pittsburgh, which is where he was born and raised. When discussing why he took on the challenge of replacing Tomlin, McCarthy made it clear that his ties to the city make landing with the Steelers all the more important to him.
“Often times, coaches and players put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in them,” McCarthy said. “But, if you are blessed beyond measure, one day you put on the colors you’ve worn since you were brought home from Mercy Hospital … This city, this franchise and this this fan base mean the world to me – because Pittsburgh is my world.”
Mike McCarthy Set to Hit the Ground Running with Steelers
GettyNew Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Steelers crossed off the biggest item on their to-do list this offseason by hiring McCarthy to be their new head coach, but the work has only just begun. McCarthy now has to work on filling out his coaching staff before the front office works on tinkering with the roster. Easily the biggest question mark in that department involves the future of Rodgers.
While the decision to hire McCarthy could sway Rodgers to return for at least one more season, that wasn’t the only reason the team hired the former Super Bowl champion. There’s no doubt that McCarthy is passionate about helping Pittsburgh return to the top of the mountain in the NFL, and his quest to achieve that goal will begin immediately.
Mike McCarthy Breaks Silence on Being Hired by Steelers as Mike Tomlin’s Replacement