Pittsburgh, Jan. 24, 2026 — The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing a familiar face back home. The team has verbally agreed with Mike McCarthy, the 62-year-old Pittsburgh native, to become their next head coach, the organization announced Saturday. McCarthy will be just the fourth head coach in franchise history since 1969.
The news comes just 11 days after longtime coach Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 seasons at the helm. The Steelers conducted interviews with seven candidates virtually and three in person, including McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. McCarthy’s in-person interview took place Wednesday, with Weaver visiting on Saturday and Flores on Tuesday.
McCarthy, who did not coach in 2025, spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, leaving after failing to reach a contract extension. He brings Super Bowl-winning experience, having led the Green Bay Packers to a title in 2010 alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That history has fueled speculation that McCarthy’s hiring could influence Rodgers, 42, to consider returning to Pittsburgh after a one-season stint with the Steelers. McCarthy and Rodgers spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, winning their only Super Bowl as a duo.
The decision to hire a veteran like McCarthy marks a departure from the Steelers’ recent practice of selecting first-time head coaches. Tomlin, Bill Cowher, and Chuck Noll were all under 38 when hired and had never led an NFL team. Steelers owner Art Rooney II emphasized a desire to compete immediately, signaling confidence that McCarthy can end the team’s postseason drought, which has persisted since 2017.
“I’m not sure why you waste a year of your life not trying to contend,” Rooney said. “Obviously your roster is what it is, changes every year. And so you deal with what you have every year, try to put yourself in a position to compete. Sometimes you have the horses, sometimes you don’t, but I think you try every year.”
With McCarthy at the helm, the Steelers hope to combine his championship experience with a talented roster to make a serious run at returning to Super Bowl contention. The team and McCarthy are expected to finalize details of the contract in the coming days.
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