Mike Tomlin's decision to step down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach opened the door for the organization to reset and move in a potentially exciting direction. Instead, they made the most status quo choice imaginable by hiring Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy may not generate the same buzz as Brian Flores or Jesse Minter, but he was the most accomplished coach available. Hiring him signals that Pittsburgh is serious about competing in 2026 and beyond.
That will be easier said than done, however, as the Steelers have an aging roster and a massive question at quarterback. McCarthy will have his work cut out for him, but his first move feels like a no-brainer.
Mike McCarthy should hire Al Harris to be the Pittsburgh Steelers' new defensive coordinator
Assuming McCarthy is allowed to put together his own staff, current defensive coordinator Teryl Austin likely won't be back.
Steelers fans would be hard-pressed to name a better replacement than Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris, who played for Mike McCarthy in Green Bay from 2006 to 2009 and later spent four seasons on his Cowboys staff, finishing as assistant head coach in McCarthy’s final year.
A cornerback whisperer, Harris has received significant DC interest this cycle. He's already interviewed with the Packers, with the Commanders and Titans next in line.
The 51-year-old is close with Dan Quinn, whom he coached alongside in Dallas, meaning McCarthy will need to move quickly to secure an interview with his former cornerback.
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No matter where Harris has coached, his defenses have generated takeaways.
The Cowboys intercepted a whopping 82 passes in Harris' five years as DBs coach and pass game specialist, good for the third-most in the NFL during that span. He also helped mold Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland into All-Pro corners very early in their respective careers.
In Harris' first season with the Bears, they led the league with 23 interceptions. Last season, Chicago ranked 18th with a 1.94 percent interception rate with essentially the same personnel. Can you spot the difference?
Harris has been on defensive coordinator watch for over a year now, and the league seemingly believes he's ready to make that leap.
There admittedly isn’t much to love about the McCarthy hire, but he would win plenty of favor in the court of public opinion if he chose Al Harris as his defensive coordinator.