The Pittsburgh Steelers held a press conference on Tuesday to formally announce Mike McCarthy as the 17th head coach in franchise history. McCarthy started with a highly emotional opening dialogue where he stated his gratitude for the opportunity, as well as his understanding of the Steelers history and lore, being that he is a Pittsburgh native.
Once the moment settled, it was down to business, and football business especially. McCarthy, accompanied by Art Rooney II, Daniel Rooney, and Omar Khan, answered questions from the media – below is a bit of what we learned.
McCarthy Wants Rodgers’ Back
Mike McCarthy left little room for interpretation when asked about the possibility of Aaron Rodgers returning – he wants him back. He mentioned that he thought Rodgers “was a great asset for the team” and that veteran players often need time to step away and assess their future before committing to another season.
Rodgers, of course, has done this before, as recently as last season when he took until minicamp to decide to play for the Steelers in 2025. McCarthy added that a timeline for an answer from Rodgers has not been discussed yet.
I would expect Rodgers to return as QB1 in 2026. His praise for the Steelers organization and Mike McCarthy leaves it nearly inevitable.
Will Howard the Future?
Both McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan separately mentioned the development of Will Howard.
The 6th round rookie is yet to see the field in his young pro career, after sustaining a training camp injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason. Other than briefly at training camp, Steelers fans are yet to see much from Howard, but it has not stopped the hype.
Many believe he could be the ever-elusive QB of the future in Pittsburgh – McCarthy appeared to share that sentiment.
“I’m really excited about Will Howard. I think he’s someone who really came on at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him.”
General Manager Omar Khan indicated that part of the attraction to McCarthy was his history of QB development and the excitement to work with Will Howard.
I don’t expect Howard to be a starter in 2026, barring something catastrophic, but McCarthy certainly increases his chances of being considered as the QB of the future in Pittsburgh.
Defense is Here to Stay
The 3-4 defense has been a Steelers staple for decades, and it doesn’t appear to be changing soon. McCarthy said that not only will the 3-4 defense remain in place, but they would like to keep the terminology the same as well. He noted that it has worked since 1992 and the team is built for it.
McCarthy appeared excited about having a potential top defensive unit, saying, “I’ve been head coach 18 years, I’ve had one top 5 defense and we won the Super Bowl.” referring to his 2011 Super Bowl victory against the Steelers.
No word on his defensive coordinator just yet, but I would expect him to be named in the near future. Interviews have already begun surfacing
McCarthy Will Call Plays on Offense
This comes as less news and more confirmation. McCarthy called plays on offense in both Green Bay and Dallas with great success. It was expected that it would carry over to Pittsburgh.
He will appoint an offensive coordinator, and there is already a confirmed candidate set to interview.
Many are pleased with the Steelers’ shift in philosophy by hiring an offense-minded head coach. In his five seasons in Dallas, McCarthy’s offenses ranked 17, 1, 4, 1, and 21 in scoring. Both seasons outside of the top 5 were without his starting quarterback.
McCarthy stated that he believes in running the ball and setting the QB up for success as his primary offensive philosophy – one that will be welcomed in Pittsburgh after years of struggling offense.
Nobody Wants #7 as Much as Big Mike
The coach, endearingly known as “Big Mike” McCarthy, showed his heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to be the head coach of his hometown Steelers. Once the initial emotion and the magnitude of his appointment subsided, the pure yinzer and football man shone through. The responsibility to return the Steelers to former glory is not lost on Mike McCarthy; he is, after all, a Pittsburgh guy.
