Pittsburgh Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy as New Head Coach
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially announced the hiring of Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, marking a significant return for the 62-year-old, who grew up in the city’s Greenfield neighborhood. This decision follows a verbal agreement made over the weekend. McCarthy takes the helm after the resignation of Mike Tomlin, who led the Steelers for 19 seasons before stepping down earlier this month.
McCarthy’s Coaching Background
With this appointment, McCarthy will be overseeing his third NFL franchise. His extensive coaching career boasts a regular-season record of 174 wins, 112 losses, and 2 ties over 18 years, including 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and 5 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Notably, McCarthy has a distinguished playoff history that includes defeating the Steelers in the Super Bowl following the 2010 season.
McCarthy’s Commitment to Pittsburgh
In expressing his commitment to the team, McCarthy stated,
“This city, this franchise and this fan base mean the world to me — because Pittsburgh is my world,”
during his introductory remarks on Tuesday afternoon.
Challenges Ahead for the Steelers
McCarthy inherits a Steelers team that has seen a period of stagnation over the past decade. Despite maintaining a historic streak of 22 seasons with a .500 record or better—a record unparalleled in the NFL—the team has struggled in the postseason, failing to secure a playoff win since their divisional round victory over the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2016 season. This past year, they finished the regular season with a 10-7 record and clinched the AFC North title, but were subsequently eliminated at home by the Houston Texans in their playoff opener. Tomlin’s resignation followed this defeat, prompting the franchise’s first coaching search since 1969, when Chuck Noll was appointed.
