Why did Steelers hire Mike McCarthy? Pittsburgh finds Mike Tomlin replacement with Super Bowl-winning coach

Daniel Mader

•
Why did Steelers hire Mike McCarthy? Pittsburgh finds Mike Tomlin replacement with Super Bowl-winning coach image

For just the fourth time since 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers are hiring a new head coach.

The Steelers are bringing in former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy to lead their franchise, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday. 

McCarthy, who did not coach in the NFL in the 2025 season, is set to make a return to the league with as head coach for a third historic franchise, owning a winning history — and plenty of connections to 2025 Steelers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Here's what to know about the Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy.

MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:

Why did Steelers hire Mike McCarthy?

When the news of Mike Tomlin leaving the Steelers arrived — after plenty of speculation that the team may also fire its longtime head coach — there was little doubt that Pittsburgh, one of the most traditional organizations in the NFL, would be pursue an experienced coach to replace him. Of coaches on this year's open market, outside of New York Giants hire John Harbaugh, it's hard to argue that McCarthy doesn't own the deepest track record of success.

From 2006 to 2018, McCarthy led the Packers to six division titles, nine playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title. From 2020 to 2024, he led the Cowboys to two division titles and three playoff appearances.

McCarthy, who has stepped away from coaching since leaving Dallas in 2024, is a proven leader and one of just five head coaches (Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Andy Reid, and Bill Belichick) to lead a team to eight-straight playoff appearances. He isn't the kind of coach the Steelers have to take an upside gamble on — with over a decade as a head coach, McCarthy has won in the NFL plenty. Pittsburgh, facing an uncertain future, can benefit from the kind of stability McCarthy brought Green Bay and Dallas in the past.

There are a few more interesting tidbits when it comes to McCarthy's fit in Pittsburgh. For one, he was born and raised in Steelers country, raised a fan of the team with his father, Joe McCarthy Jr., being a firefighter for the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau and an officer for the Pittsburgh Police Department.

Mike McCarthy also has some known previous relationships with key Steelers figures. In 2000, he was part of a New Orleans Saints staff as offensive coordinator that included now-Steelers GM Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl.

And finally, there's the connection to the Steelers' only real known quarterback option, for the time being: Aaron Rodgers. While Rodgers could certainly call it quits in the coming weeks, retiring from the NFL after his one season for the Steelers, the McCarthy hire also may signal that Pittsburgh believes Rodgers will return to the team for 2026.

McCarthy was Rodgers' head coach in Green Bay for the quarterback's entire multi-decade career with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl as a tandem in 2011. Considering part of the reason Rodgers signed with the Steelers in the 2025 offseason was because of the coaching situation, specifically naming Tomlin as part of his reasoning, coaching could now be a reason for Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh on another one-year deal.

When Tomlin stepped away from the Steelers, team owner Art Rooney II said that decision would affect Rodgers' future. Rodgers' decision remains to be seen, but the McCarthy hire should play a significant factor if he does come back next season.

It became apparent later in the coaching cycle that McCarthy would be strongly considered for Pittsburgh; Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 20 that McCarthy wasn't just interviewing, but was "considered a strong candidate."

McCarthy breaks a few trends compared to the Steelers' last few head coaches over decades. For one, he has an offensive background, while Tomlin and other Pittsburgh coaches have traditionally had defensive backgrounds. McCarthy is also nine years older than Tomlin, who was 34 when hired by Pittsburgh in 2007.

Interestingly, the Steelers hire McCarthy aware of the fact that no head coach has ever led two franchises to a Super Bowl title. While seven coaches have led two teams to Super Bowl appearances, none of them were victorious with both. 

Regardless of that fact, the Steelers decided that McCarthy's winning history and connections to the area and organization were enough to bring him in as head coach.

MORE: Every rumor from the Steelers' head coaching search

Mike McCarthy contract

  • Years: TBD
  • Amount: TBD

The details of McCarthy's contract with the Steelers have not yet been reported.

Financial details may not be reported, as NFL teams typically do not announce them for coaches.

Mike McCarthy coaching timeline

Here's a rundown of McCarthy's coaching career.

Fort Hays State, graduate assistant, 1987-88

McCarthy's coaching career began in 1987, when he joined Fort Hays State as a grad assistant, focusing on the defensive side of the ball. During his time at the school, McCarthy pursued a Masters in Sports Administration.

Pitt, graduate assistant and WRs coach, 1989-92

McCarthy also had time as a grad assistant at Pitt, near his hometown of Pittsburgh, from 1989-91. He later earned the role of wide receivers coach in the 1992 season.

Kansas City Chiefs, offensive quality control coach and QBs coach, 1993-98

In 1993, both McCarthy and another Pitt coach, Paul Hackett, were hired by the Chiefs, then under Marty Schottenheimer. McCarthy became an offensive quality control coach, with Joe Montana the team's quarterback at the time.

In 1995, McCarthy became quarterbacks coach for Kansas City, overseeing Rich Gannon, Elvis Grbac and Steve Bono.

Green Bay Packers, QBs coach, 1999

After Schottenheimer retired following the 1998 season, McCarthy left the Chiefs for the Packers to remain a quarterbacks coach.

He directly worked with Brett Favre in Green Bay for the 1999 season, and the quarterback threw for 4,091 yards that year.

New Orleans Saints, offensive coordinator, 2000-04

McCarthy became an offensive coordinator for the first time in 2000, joining the Saints. In his first year, he was named the NFC Assistant Coach of the Year by USA Today, and New Orleans went 10-6.

McCarthy remained with the Saints for five seasons, including some high-scoring offenses.

San Francisco 49ers, offensive coordinator, 2005

Under head coach Mike Nolan, McCarthy joined the 49ers for the 2005 season as offensive coordinator. 

Green Bay Packers, head coach, 2006-18

McCarthy replaced Mike Sherman as the head coach of the Packers in 2006. He would lead one of the most successful eras of the franchise ever, guiding the transition of Favre to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, then winning six NFC North titles and one Super Bowl over the next 12 years.

Under McCarthy, the Packers were a consistent NFC threat annually, making nine playoff appearances. However, the lack of a breakthrough to another Super Bowl appearance after 2011 is what ultimately led to his exit from the team; after six playoff appearances without a Super Bowl appearance from 2012-16, followed by a 7-9 season in 2017, the Packers fired McCarthy mid-way through the 2018 season.

He finished his Packers tenure with a 125–77–2 (.618) regular season record and a 10–8 (.556) postseason record.

Dallas Cowboys, head coach, 2020-24

After a year off from coaching, McCarthy returned to the NFL, and the NFC, in 2020 when he became the Cowboys' head coach, replacing Jason Garrett.

McCarthy's time in Dallas would prove similar to his last years in Green Bay: successful in the regular season, but not much playoff success. With Dak Prescott at quarterback and plenty of star power, the Cowboys won the NFC East in 2021 and 2023, also making the playoffs in 2022. In none of those trips did they advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Following a 7-10 season in 2024, McCarthy's contract was not renewed by Dallas, which instead promoted offensive quarter Brian Schottenheimer.

Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach, 2026-present

Now, after another gap year from head coaching, McCarthy returns to the NFL to become the coach of yet another franchise deeply rooted in the league's history.

He'll face a tall task in replacing Tomlin in Pittsburgh.

MORE: Everything that's known about Aaron Rodgers' retirement decision

How old is Mike McCarthy?

Mike McCarthy is 62 years old. He will turn 63 on Nov. 10, 2026.

He becomes the second-oldest head coach in the league, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid (67). 

How many Super Bowls has Mike McCarthy won?

Mike McCarthy has won one Super Bowl, which came with the Packers in 2011.

Coincidentally, that 31-25 Super Bowl victory came over the Steelers, as McCarthy went head-to-head with Tomlin, who he is now replacing as head coach. Aaron Rodgers won Super Bowl MVP.

MORE AARON RODGERS NEWS:

Content Producer

News Correspondent