The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly moving toward hiring Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Coming home: The Steelers are working towards a deal to hire Mike McCarthy as their head coach, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2026
McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh. Now, at age 62, the Super Bowl winner gets a chance to coach the team he grew up rooting for. pic.twitter.com/utGTpvgcp6
McCarthy is set to take over for Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after 19 seasons at the helm. Tomlin, the NFL’s longest-tenured coach at the time of his resignation, never had a losing season but went 0‑7 in his final playoff games.
If finalized, McCarthy will become just the fourth head coach in Pittsburgh since 1969, joining the ranks of Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin. Noll, Cowher, and Tomlin all started their tenures in their mid-30s, and each brought Lombardi trophies to Pittsburgh—Noll with four, Cowher with one, and Tomlin with one during his nearly two decades leading the franchise.
The Steelers’ organizational stability, built under the Rooney family, has long been tied to their ability to identify and retain successful coaches. That stability has helped Pittsburgh secure six Super Bowl titles, tied for the most in NFL history alongside the New England Patriots. However, the franchise has not won a championship since 2008 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. Their last Super Bowl appearance came in 2010.
Owner Art Rooney II indicated that, while Tomlin could have returned in 2026, the team is ready for a fresh start. Despite that, Rooney avoided labeling the situation as a “rebuild,” emphasizing that the Steelers aim to compete immediately.
McCarthy’s challenge will be to restore Pittsburgh’s postseason success while upholding the hard-nosed culture and proud traditions established by his legendary predecessors.
