Mike McCarthy's NFL journey has taken him to Green Bay and Dallas during his long coaching career. Both cities are landmarks on the NFL map, decked in gold, silver, and heaps of confetti.
His latest appointment brings him to another big-league city. The veteran coach was tasked with leading the Steelers out of a lull following Mike Tomlin's resignation at the end of the 2025 season. For the third time in his career, McCarthy will steer one of the NFL's signature franchises.
This role likely means more than his previous ones. McCarthy is a Yinzer, having come of age during Pittsburgh's sporting heyday. All these years later, he aims to usher in a new dawn in the Steel City while paying homage to his local roots.
Here’s what you need to know about McCarthy's Pittsburgh background.
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Where is Mike McCarthy from?
McCarthy hails from Pittsburgh and grew up as a fan of all the local teams—the Pittsburgh Panthers, Pirates, and, most notably, the Steelers.
"I could name the whole defense [from then] probably still today," McCarthy told ESPN in 2024.
He roamed the streets of southwestern Pennsylvania, from Aiello's, a beloved pizza spot in the heart of Squirrel Hill, to Magee Park, a sprawling recreational area with two baseball fields, two basketball courts, and a glistening pool.
"I can remember being out there in high school playing basketball 'til 1 o'clock in the morning," McCarthy said. "Looking back on it, it was like having your own country club."
McCarthy was a regular at Three Rivers Stadium, the Steelers' old home that was torn down in 2001. He avidly supported both the Panthers and the Steelers, witnessing the likes of Tony Dorsett and Franco Harris perform atop the Tartan Turf.
"It was just such a phenomenal time to grow up in the '70s in Pittsburgh," McCarthy said.
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What part of Pittsburgh is Mike McCarthy from?
McCarthy hails from Greenfield, a working-class neighborhood in the city's 15th Ward. He roamed the enclave's hilly streets, attending mass at the local Catholic church and playing pickup football with the children of steel mill workers. They often challenged kids from nearby streets, from Exeter St. To Loretto Rd. And beyond.
"As long as you're up for dinner, your parents didn't even know you left the neighborhood," McCarthy said. "Just so many great times."
McCarthy's father, Joe, owns a bar in the neighborhood, aptly named Joe McCarthy's Bar and Grill. McCarthy would clean the eatery before watching his beloved Steelers play on Sunday afternoons.
"It was just a tight-knit community, and you never really left Greenfield very much," McCarthy told ESPN in 2011. It was a big deal to jump on a bus and go to downtown Pittsburgh to see a matinee on Saturday. You never really left Greenfield because you had everything there."
Do Mike McCarthy's parents still live in Pittsburgh?
McCarthy's parent do, indeed, still live in Pittsburgh. They've stayed there for the better part of the past seven decades, moving from the Greenfield Ave. Residence that they raised their five children to a bluff down the road. They aren't the only McCarthys in the area. His sisters, Ellen and Kellie live right next to them. His other sister, Colleen, isn't too far away either. Nor is his younger brother, Joe, who died in 2015 and was laid to rest at nearby Cavalry Catholic Cemetery.
Where did Mike McCarthy go to college?
McCarthy attended Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, where he played on the football team. He initially enrolled at Salem University in West Virginia but returned home to help in his father's bar. In 1984, he joined Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, spending a season on the school's football team. That led to his eventual move to Baker.
At Baker, McCarthy starred as a tight end, earning two all-conference honors. A former team captain, he helped lead the Wildcats to a national runner-up finish in 1986.
How old is Mike McCarthy?
McCarthy is 62 years old. He'll turn 63 on Nov. 10. He is currently the second-oldest person still coaching in the NFL, only trailing Chiefs taskmaster Andy Reid. He is eight days older than third-place on the list, Buccaneers boss Todd Bowles.