The Pittsburgh Steelers are working on a deal to hire Mike McCarthy to be their next head coach, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The Steelers were left without a head coach for the first time in 19 years once Mike Tomlin stepped down after the teams wild card loss to the Texans. The Steelers conducted interviews with nine candidates over the last two weeks, including an in-person interview with Mike McCarthy on Tuesday.
Hiring McCarthy after a single interview was unexpected, especially considering that Rams defensive coordinator, Chris Shula, was reported to be the heavy favorite.
McCarthy brings an impressive resume, consisting of 174 career regular-season wins (15th all-time), an 11-11 playoff record, and a Super Bowl victory.
Owner Art Rooney II bucked the Steelers’ traditional trend of hiring a young, defensive-minded head coach – such as previous hires Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher, and Chuck Noll. McCarthy brings an offensive background to Pittsburgh, which could comfort many who urged the Steelers to change their long time defensive philosophy, given the nature of the current NFL.
I hypothesized that the Steelers may bring Mike McCarthy at some capacity to assist the eventual head coach and attempt to lure Aaron Rodgers back for another season. His appointment as head coach virtually guarantees that Aaron Rodgers will return and that the front office believes the roster is adequate enough to compete at a high level.
Although the hiring of McCarthy comes as a surprise, it’s a reason for optimism. The Steelers will carry a new identity for the first time in decades and have a coach capable of coaching and developing a quarterback, a flaw that eventually led to Mike Tomlin’s eventual departure.
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