When Pittsburgh Steelers fans found out that team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan decided to name Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, there was an initial distaste for the decision. It's not that McCarthy is a bad coach; it's that the majority of the fanbase wanted to move in a different direction.
Like it or not, the Steelers need a rebuild. This team is lacking a franchise quarterback, a true No. 1 wide receiver (among other things), and Mike Tomlin's departure felt like the perfect time to bring in a young, innovative coaching staff—one that would be willing to tear the operation down to the studs and start over again.
That won't be the plan with McCarthy. The 62-year-old plans to be competitive right away.
Though we may not agree with the team's overall philosophy, when we look at McCarthy and the situation he's entering compared to the other nine head coach hirings around the league this cycle, it's hard not to put him high on the list.
Ranking the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike McCarthy decision among all 10 NFL head coach hirings in 2026
1. Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
This one is easy. Klint Kubiak was my favorite head coach candidate in the 2026 hiring cycle, and the young offensive mastermind did brilliant things for the Seattle Seahawks' offense this past season. While he's got a big uphill battle in a crowded AFC West after joining the Las Vegas Raiders, Kubiak will be able to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while having weapons to work with like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty.
2. Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
Of the defensive-minded head coach candidates this year, Jesse Minter was by far my favorite. This is a results-based league... and Minter produced. The 42-year-old led an unspectacular Los Angeles Chargers group to the top-five total defense in 2025, despite league-average talent. Minter has a chance to be the next Mike Macdonald for the Baltimore Ravens.
3. Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Kevin Stefanski isn't a two-time NFL Coach of the Year for nothing. While his past two seasons in Cleveland didn't go well, he still brought some offensive creativity to the Browns—a team that grossly lacked offensive talent and quality receiving options over the years. Now give Stefanski skill players like Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts, and watch him cook. The AFC South is wide open, and Stefanski could lead his team to a playoff berth as early as his first season as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2026.
4. Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers threw away 57 years' worth of hiring habits when they went with Mike McCarthy. Unlike Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin before him, he's not in his 30s, he's not a defensive mind, and he's not a first-time head coach. Despite these things, McCarthy has a proven track record and a knack for getting offenses to perform at a high level (which is what this team desperately needs). There's a chance he's not a long-term solution, but he's a quality offensive play-caller who will give new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham the flexibility to run the defense the way he wants.
5. John Harbaugh, New York Giants
I'm lower on the John Harbaugh hiring than most. While the 18-year head coaching veteran could help get the New York Giants out of the gutter, he might not be the ceiling-raiser fans hope for. On top of that, it sounds like Harbaugh is going to be heavily involved in the front office with GM Joe Schoen. Anytime we've seen this from a head coach, it always ends in disaster. Like Tomlin, Harbaugh is a good coach—and that might be enough to at least help the Giants be relevant again.
6. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Joe Brady was already the offensive play-caller for the Buffalo Bills; now he just has the head coaching title attached to his name. With Sean McDermott no longer in the building, Brady hired Jim Leonhard as his new defensive coordinator. Brady needs to hit on this hire, but with quarterback Josh Allen at the helm, the offense remains in great hands.
7. Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
You don't see many situations like this. After coaching at the college ranks and the NFL combined for over 35 years, Todd Monken is finally getting his first shot to be an NFL head coach. Monken did wonders with the Baltimore Ravens' offense and quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, Monken will work to raise a dismal Browns offense. The worst part is that he won't have excellent defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz by his side.
8. Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
Things didn't go well for Mike LaFleur as the former offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, but I'm willing to give him a second shot. LaFleur is the brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and, as the OC of the San Francisco 49ers, he was most recently the direct understudy of the great Kyle Shanahan. Those are some quality offensive-minded influences, but the Arizona Cardinals are in a rough state and in the toughest division in football.
9. Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers
Jeff Hafley might be a good coach, but in 2025, he didn't go above and beyond expectations as the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. In fact, his unit took a step backward, despite trading two first-round picks for Micah Parsons (who suffered an ACL injury late in the year). Going to a talent-depleted Dolphins defense will give Hafley the ultimate test right away.
10. Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
While I still believe Robert Saleh is one of the better defensive minds in the business, he's got several big factors working against him. Saleh has a record of just 20-36 as an NFL head coach (previously with the New York Jets) and was fired five games into the 2024 season. Meanwhile, in his most recent stint as defensive coordinator of the 49ers, he led his team to the 20th-ranked total defense. Now Saleh will attempt to turn around the Tennessee Titans—a team that's been among the worst in the NFL over the past four seasons.