Mike McCarthy has officially been named the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remained an underdog during this hunt to replace 19-year leader Mike Tomlin. McCarthy replaces the legendary figure of the franchise and will have ginormous shoes to fill. Things won't be easy, especially with high expectations. His first test will be filling out a quality coaching staff.
With him as their hire as the next head coach of the organization, he could pluck some coaches with prior connections. McCarthy has held various roles throughout his lengthy NFL career, including a long career with the Green Bay Packers. He has a strong football lineage and should be able to succeed with this promotion.
One of the biggest things job seekers for the Steelers have been looking for in interviews is who could join their staff.
Pittsburgh was notorious for a poor group of coaches under Tomlin, and the hope is that this will change with a new leader. McCarthy has plenty of talented coaches he could help steal from the different organizations. Quality coaches are everywhere, and McCarthy should take advantage of that.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could poach several high-end coaches after hiring Mike McCarthy as head coach
Nate Scheelhaase, Rams pass game coordinator
One popular rumor around Pittsburgh is that hiring Chris Shula could have brought Nate Scheelhaase to Pittsburgh. He might not be the favorite anymore, but Scheelhaase could still become their offensive coordinator.
The most difficult part would be determining whether the Rams’ pass game coordinator would consider leaving Los Angeles for a promotion.
Gaining a job upgrade to offensive coordinator is an obvious step up, but the Steelers' offense could struggle until they locate a long-term solution at the quarterback position. Sticking with the Rams could eventually result in Scheelhaase becoming their offensive coordinator or landing a head coaching gig.
The Steelers would love to add Scheelhaase, but McCarthy's play calling duties could ruin things.
Raheem Morris, Ex-Falcons head coach
One thing that McCarthy has been able to accomplish during his career is get some talented defensive coordinators on his staff. Raheem Morris remains a quality coach who could be under consideration for the vacancy. It seems unlikely that Teryl Austin will return, and that will be a nice breath of fresh air for Pittsburgh. Morris might be a top choice for McCarthy to target.
Morris has held the defensive coordinator position three times between college and the NFL. He produced strong results with the Rams in that position from 2021 to 2023. He could be a perfect target for the Steelers. McCarthy has hired some former head coaches to control his defense. Keep Morris circled as a possible option to join their staff when they see how the other hires play out.
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Anthony Weaver, Ex-Dolphins defensive coordinator
With McCarthy becoming the head coach, it would be unrealistic to think he would be involved in defensive play-calling. Tomlin was an integral part of their defensive strategy. It will be different under McCarthy, an offensive mind. They will still need a defensive coordinator to collaborate with McCarthy, and Anthony Weaver might be a top choice for the job.
He has led defenses in the past and could join Pittsburgh.
Weaver was a finalist for the Steelers head coaching job, has served as a defensive coordinator two times, and remains in NFL head coach interviews. He didn't produce a ton of success in those roles, but they were also with the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. Weaver is someone with plenty of experience who could work with McCarthy to call the Steelers defense.
Alex Van Pelt, Senior offensive assistant
Outside of Scheelhaase, the other offensive assistant on the Rams staff who could join the Steelers is Alex Van Pelt. He is an interesting coach who is only an assistant in LA. He is from Pittsburgh, played at the University of Pittsburgh, and has plenty of NFL experience. The connections between Van Pelt and the Steelers are already present, making him a clear favorite to potentially join McCarthy.
He has held offensive coordinator roles four times during his NFL career, with mixed results. McCarthy would be adding this coach to help provide experience and someone who knows what they are doing. Perhaps he shouldn't be the favorite to become their next offensive coordinator, but he could provide a ton of options to help fill out the remainder of their coaching staff.