The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially taken a sharp turn from their traditional playbook.
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The team confirmed Saturday that it has reached a verbal agreement with Mike McCarthy to become its next head coach, a move that signals a clear philosophical shift in Pittsburgh. Multiple reports had hinted this was coming, but the hire still represents a major departure from decades of organizational habit.
McCarthy brings a deep résumé. Over 18 seasons leading the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, he compiled a 174-112-2 regular season record with an 11-11 postseason mark. His playoff résumé includes a Super Bowl XLV victory, which notably came against the Steelers.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has pointed out, this move breaks from Pittsburgh's long-standing pattern of hiring defensive coordinators with no prior head coaching experience. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin were all first-time head coaches when hired, all defensive-minded, and all stayed for the long haul.
McCarthy is different. He is offensive-leaning, highly experienced, and older than his predecessors were at the time of hire. In fact, Florio notes McCarthy enters with more head coaching experience than Noll, Cowher and Tomlin combined when they took the job.
The Steelers are betting that the modern NFL, with its emphasis on offense and evolving player safety priorities, calls for a new approach.
Now comes the real question: Can Pittsburgh make it four straight home-run coaching hires? And if so, how long will this one last?
