Few who root for the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed the news of Mike McCarthy being named the new head coach. After Mike Tomlin stepped down, many thought the team would opt for a similar hire to the ones they made with Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin himself. A young leader who will be a first-time head coach. Instead, they chose McCarthy, a 62-year-old head coach with extensive experience.
Looking at his resume, there shouldn't be many complaints. He wins everywhere he goes. With that said, he also has many of the same issues that Tomlin presented. He hasn't been too successful in the playoffs since the early days of his career as an HC.
It could lead to more of the same mushy middle in Pittsburgh that they have been begging for change for, or it could do something else.
The Steelers have struggled to assemble strong coaching staffs under Tomlin. While McCarthy deserves scrutiny for much of his career, one of his greatest strengths has been identifying coaching talent. He actually has a successful coaching tree, which is something Tomlin failed at. McCarthy could hire a good staff, and that should start with a splash at their defensive coordinator hire.
Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike McCarthy could hire Sean McDermott as their defensive coordinator
As head coach vacancies continue to dry up around the NFL, those who fail to earn a top job could be looking for work.
One name to keep circled as a potential option is Sean McDermott. He was recently fired following a contentious split with the Buffalo Bills, where he served as their HC for nine seasons. He failed to get them over the hump and into a Super Bowl, but he was still a highly regarded head coach. He could be looking for a rebound.
It appears unlikely that he would accept a demotion from head coach to defensive coordinator, but it's too early to rule it out. With McCarthy as the top dog in Pittsburgh, it might change McDermott's opinion. The Steelers have star players on defense, and a strong showing with them this upcoming season could catapult McDermott back into a head coaching job. There is a path for this to happen.
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It seems like more news could leak out regarding McDermott's departure from Buffalo. If negative press comes out about him, his chances of regaining a top job could sink. The Steelers present a perfect opportunity for him to spend a year rebuilding his reputation, even if things ultimately fizzle out.
McCarthy isn't afraid to hire former head coaches as his defensive coordinator, and it could happen again.
McDermott is a Pennsylvania guy, hailing from outside Philadelphia. Reports are stating the coach could take the year off, but the job opening in Pittsburgh could be tempting. It would keep him in a familiar state. The defensive coordinator spot has gotten plenty of scrutiny under Tomlin, but with McCarthy leading the way, that vacancy could be a direct path to land another head coaching gig.