Who Could Be Part of Pittsburgh Steelers' Coaching Staff?

Mike McCarthy will officially begin his tenure as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach on Tuesday afternoon when he is introduced at a news conference. McCarthy’s first order of business will then be to assemble a coaching staff.

With an offensive background, McCarthy is expected to call the plays, just as he did when he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers (2006-18) and Dallas Cowboys (2020-24). As a result, McCarthy’s offensive coordinator hire will likely have fewer responsibilities.

One possibility for OC is New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzein. Notably, he spent three seasons (2013-15) as McCarthy's backup quarterback with the Packers and later joined McCarthy on the Cowboys’ coaching staff during his five seasons there.

McCarthy could hire Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to fill the same role for the Steelers. Graham was the Packers’ defensive run game coordinator during McCarthy’s last season in 2018. Graham has spent the last seven seasons as a DC with the Miami Dolphins (2019), New York Giants (2020-21), and the Raiders (2022-25).

Alternatively, Joe Whitt Jr. could also be considered for the defensive coordinator position. He held that role with the Washington Commanders for the last two seasons before being fired earlier this month. Whitt was on McCarthy’s staff with the Packers (2008-18) and Cowboys (2020-23) for a total of 14 seasons.

Another experienced possibility is Mike Pettine, who recently retired from the Minnesota Vikings after four seasons as their assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach. Joining McCarthy in Pittsburgh could be a reversal of that decision. Previously, Pettine served as McCarthy’s last defensive coordinator with the Packers.

Pettine was the Cleveland Browns’ head coach for two seasons from 2014-15 and had a 10-22 record. He also spent seven seasons as a DC with the New York Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013), and Packers (2018-20).

Additionally, Chicago Bears defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Al Harris could join the Steelers’ staff as a defensive assistant. He coached under McCarthy with the Cowboys for five seasons and played for him for five seasons with the Packers (2006-10).

Finally, the one current Steelers’ staff member almost certain to be retained is inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley, who has assisted McCarthy throughout all 18 head-coaching seasons.

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