The news surprised many Pittsburgh Steelers fans, yet maybe it shouldn’t have.
Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy as head coach on Saturday. He led the Packers (2006-18) and Cowboys (2020-24) for 18 NFL seasons, compiling a 174-112-2 record and beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV at the end of the 2010 season.
Notably, McCarthy was the only one of the nine candidates interviewed to replace Mike Tomlin, who had previously been an NFL head coach; the other eight, all in their 30s or 40s, had not. This stood out, as the Steelers had not hired a coach without prior professional head coaching experience since Mike Nixon in 1965. McCarthy, at 62, contrasted sharply with the younger field.
Two reasons McCarthy always seemed likelier to be hired: He’s a Pittsburgh native from Greenfield, and he’s of Irish descent.
That might sound like racial profiling, but it’s not. Please let me explain.
Pittsburgh is the most provincial city in the United States. Locals trust each other; outsiders must prove themselves. The Rooneys, who have owned the Steelers since 1933, are Pittsburghers through and through.
The Rooneys are also proud of their Irish heritage. The late Dan Rooney, father of current owner Art Rooney II, was U.S. ambassador to Ireland under President Barack Obama.
So, taking those factors into account, it made sense for the Steelers to hire McCarthy.
McCarthy was one of three candidates to interview in person with the Steelers, along with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The Steelers also had videoconference interviews with Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Elvero, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The Dolphins hired Hafley as their head coach, and Minter got hired by the Baltimore Ravens.
Under NFL rules, the Steelers could not speak with Scheelhaase and Shula until next week because the Rams play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks. Pittsburgh was expected to conduct face-to-face interviews. However, Rooney and general manager Omar Khan apparently had a change of heart.
Instead, the Steelers hope for some luck of the (Pittsburgh) Irish.
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