Steelers Super Bowl conqueror Mike McCarthy returns for an interview. A hometown hero's potential comeback to lead Pittsburgh's coaching search.
Mike McCarthy beat his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in a Super Bowl. Now, he might come home to coach them.
The Steelers plan to interview McCarthy this week for their coaching vacancy that opened when Mike Tomlin resigned on Tuesday. McCarthy easily has the most NFL head coaching experience of any of the candidates.
McCarthy and his Green Bay Packers beat Tomlin and the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 season. It was an especially emotional win for McCarthy, who grew up as a Steelers fan in the Greenfield section of Pittsburgh and graduated from Bishop Boyle High School.
McCarthy, 62, has been a head coach for 18 seasons, 13 with the Packers (2006-17) and five with the Dallas Cowboys (2020-24). He has a 174-112-2 record with eight division titles, 12 playoff appearances, and one Super Bowl trip. McCarthy has been out of football this season.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is the only other candidate to replace Tomlin who has been a head coach in the NFL. Flores is expected to have an in-person interview with Pittsburgh on Monday.
McCarthy, 62, becomes the ninth known candidate. He interviewed for the Tennessee Titans’ coaching job and talked with the New York Giants before they hired John Harbaugh.
The Steelers held teleconference interviews with two Los Angeles Rams assistant coaches – defensive coordinator Chris Shula and pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – as well as Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Pittsburgh has also asked for permission to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Elijo Elvero, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
McCarthy was an assistant coach in the NFL in the 1990s and 2000s before becoming the Packers’ head coach. McCarthy became notable as an assistant coach for his work with 49ers quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers won the first two of his four NFL MVP awards during McCarthy’s tenure in Green Bay. Rodgers was the Steelers’ quarterback this season and led them to their first AFC North title since 2025, despite being the league's oldest player at 42. It is expected that Rodgers will not return to Pittsburgh, but those plans could certainly change if McCarthy is hired.