REPORT: Pittsburgh Steelers Have Found Their Mike Tomlin Replacement

The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Mike McCarthy as their next head coach. Mike Tomlin spent the last 19 seasons as Pittsburgh's head coach before stepping down at the end of the season.

McCarthy now takes over as their fourth head coach since 1969. The 62-year-old has a ton of experience, as he has been a head coach for 18 seasons. He spent 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018, going 125-77-2, including a Super Bowl title over the Steelers in 2010. 

McCarthy then coached the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2024, going 49-35 and making three playoff appearances. 

This hire reunited McCarthy with general manager Omar Khan, as they worked together with the New Orleans Saints in 2000.

McCarthy has shown throughout his coaching career that he can raise the floor of a team and get them into the postseason consistently. However, he has only been able to make it to the Super Bowl once. 

McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh, making this a homecoming for him. Bringing him in also opens the door for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return for another season.

Following the Steelers loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round and Tomlin stepping down, it was considered unlikely that Rodgers would return for another season.

However, Rodgers played for McCarthy for many years in Green Bay, including their Super Bowl run in 2010. He also had two MVP's in McCarthy's offense in 2011 and 2014.

The Steelers have remained open to bringing Rodgers back after a productive season. The 42-year-old quarterback completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Despite his age, Rodgers remains a quality quarterback, and with no clear heir to replace him, re-signing him for another season makes a ton of sense.

Bringing in McCarthy as the next head coach signals that Pittsburgh wants a proven coach to help the team remain competitive right away. He will look to lead the Steelers to a second-straight AFC North title in what should be a more competitive division with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals reloading.

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