There were a lot of pitchforks coming out against the Pittsburgh Steelers after they announced Mike McCarthy as their new head coach. It might not be the most popular move in recent memory by the historic franchise, but it hasn't gotten worse. In fact, many are starting to accept the hiring of McCarthy. He is an experienced head coach who could help guide this veteran team into a new era.
Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano graded each hire across the NFL that filled the ten vacancies this hiring cycle. It turns out, those in Steelers Nation shouldn't be as annoyed at the McCarthy hire as others around the league. Vacchiano highlights why this hire makes sense, but he also explains why it wasn’t a guaranteed success like some other NFL additions.
"It’s hard to argue against hiring a coach with a résumé like the one McCarthy has. He is, quite simply, one of the NFL’s biggest recent winners," Vacchiano wrote. "He went 125-77-2 during his 13 years in Green Bay. He had three 12-win seasons in five years in Dallas."
When it comes down to it, Vacchiano is right. McCarthy has gained an overall lackluster reputation around the league since leaving Green Bay in 2018, but he wins everywhere he goes. His ongoing struggles in the playoffs are what the fan base has wanted to move away from since Mike Tomlin, though that could always change.
The team wants to succeed now and into the future, and that's what McCarthy presents.
Fox Sports gives the Pittsburgh Steelers a 'B' for their Mike McCarthy hire
While Vacchiano was positive for most of his assessment for the Steelers' new head coach, he wasn't mum on the idea of where this fits. Overall, hiring an older coach closer to retirement, rather than someone who would hold the position for 19 years like Tomlin, is a bold move. The club wants to win now, but they also aim to position McCarthy to develop a young, franchise-caliber quarterback.
"The only problem here is the fit. McCarthy is 62 years old, has 18 years of experience, and doesn’t seem to be the kind of coach who would want a rebuilding project. And while the Steelers don’t think they’re rebuilding, perhaps they should be," said Vacchiano.
One of the most confusing parts when this hire was announced was trying to solve how the aging coach fit into their plans.
In reality, McCarthy might only be the head coach in Pittsburgh for five years or so, marking a transition period. They have the chance to win some games in the immediate future if Aaron Rodgers returns, while McCarthy can help them produce a long-term quarterback option after.
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Gaining only a grade of 'B' isn't something magnificent to make a parade over, but this also shows that many who fought this hire could be overreacting.
No, McCarthy isn't going to become the next long-tenured coach in Steelers history, but he could prove just as important. If the Steelers can execute their plan, achieve a winning season this year, and secure an elite prospect to become their franchise quarterback in 2027, they could stay competitive for years.
Vacchiano stated, "Hiring McCarthy makes it feel like they’re ready to run it back, perhaps with deteriorating 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Now, if they could somehow land a young franchise QB, McCarthy could be very good for him."
Out of the ten hires, Vacchiano ranks McCarthy as the fourth-best addition to the head coaching vacancies this hiring cycle. That is much better than what people originally thought when this news became official.
The Steelers shouldn't plan a trip to the Super Bowl anytime soon, but their new coach could lead them into a promising spot. Time will only tell how McCarthy's era grades out.