The Pittsburgh Steelers may have just talked themselves out of their head coach of the future, and it had nothing to do with football acumen and everything to do with impatience.
Art Rooney II confirmed during his press conference that the organization wanted its next head coach in place by the start of the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and well, he got his guy, I guess, in the form of former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy.
Yet here we are, just days before the Senior Bowl and more than a month away from the Combine, and the Steelers could not wait any longer. Instead of allowing the process to fully breathe, they rushed to hire McCarthy, a move that feels less like long-term vision and more like organizational chaos.
It is quite obvious the team was not ready for Mike Tomlin to step down.
Art Rooney's impatience could doom the Pittsburgh Steelers future
Résumé Points Do Not Equal a Future Plan
You can tell me Mike McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring.
You can tell me he owns a career winning percentage of .614.
You can tell me he has produced 11 double digit win seasons.
You can tell me he is a Pittsburgh native with a long standing relationship with Aaron Rodgers.
None of this matters in my opinion.
Those are résumé bullet points, not answers to the most important question the Steelers should have been asking themselves. Who is the best coach for the next decade of Steelers football?
A Rushed Process With Better Options Still on the Table
Instead of waiting until Monday to conduct second interviews with fan favorite Chris Shula and Rams offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, two rising coaches viewed by many as forward-thinking and adaptable, the Steelers chose urgency over patience.
The decision came one day after the Baltimore Ravens named their own head coach, a detail that only amplifies the sense that Pittsburgh felt pressure to act rather than confidence in its process.
That is not how well run organizations operate.
Mike McCarthy’s Recent History Raises Real Concerns
Mike McCarthy has now been let go twice as a head coach.
He was dismissed in Green Bay following a losing season. He later coached the Dallas Cowboys, where Jerry Jones opted not to renew his contract after, once again, a losing season.
For a franchise that prides itself on stability, culture, and forward momentum, that résumé should have prompted hesitation, not acceleration.
The Steelers did not just hire a coach. They made a gamble.
Consistency Was Once the Steelers’ Identity
One thing you always knew about a Tomlin-led team was this. Playoff football was still on the table in December.
That consistency mattered. That identity mattered.
Under McCarthy, that has not always been the case. His teams have had peaks, but they have also had valleys, and the Steelers may soon find themselves learning that lesson the hard way.
Is the Narrative Around Mike McCarthy Fair?
To be fair, the narrative surrounding Mike McCarthy is not universally negative.
McCarthy was not handed an elite Aaron Rodgers. He played a major role in the quarterback’s development. Just go watch Rodgers’ 2005 preseason highlights, and you will understand what I mean. McCarthy and Rodgers’ relationship went south later in their time in Green Bay, but after their experiences apart, both sides saw their respect grow back.”
Mike is a respectable leader and a positive influence in developing a potential young quarterback. This could be great for Will Howard's development, as he is currently the only QB with any upside at all on the roster. In a down year for emerging offensive minds, Mike McCarthy provides a safe solution.
The safe hire isn't always the right hire
That final phrase may be the most telling of all.
A safe solution.
The Steelers did not hire McCarthy because he represents the future of the NFL. They hired him because he represents familiarity, comfort, and certainty in an uncertain moment. Rooney simply was not ready for Tomlin to step down. The team made a hire that was very out of character for what the franchise usually does.
That may buy stability in the short term, but it rarely delivers sustained excellence in the long term.
For an organization that built its reputation on patience, restraint, and getting the big decisions right, this one feels rushed. And if Chris Shula or Nathan Scheelhaase turns into the next great NFL head coach, this will be remembered as the moment the Steelers chose impatience over vision.