I owe Mike McCarthy an apology.
The likelihood of him reading this is quite small, but one can dream.
I don’t apologize for being critical of the hire, but with some time for reflection I can see what I wrote in the immediate aftermath of his hiring was emotional, overly reactive, and lacking consideration for the big picture. My frustration at the time was less about McCarthy the coach, and more about what it seemed to suggest about the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
After a decade plus of mediocrity—the team never being good enough to truly compete for a Super Bowl while simultaneously not bad enough to land the kind of immediate franchise altering difference makers at the top of drafts—the Steelers seemed to be pursuing the absolutely safest route possible in order to avoid a dreaded losing season.
Yes they interviewed a slew of young, innovative, and exciting hires - the type any fan today hopes will turn into the next Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, or Matt LaFleur (worth noting only one of these men have won a championship but Kyle has gotten to the big game twice). For a team and fan base that seemed destined to be stuck reliving the 2000s glory days till the end of time, hiring McCarthy seemed like the option of least risk. He was an established head coach previously, had won a Super Bowl, and was currently unemployed. No one would likely lose their job over hiring McCarthy vs an unproven Chris Shula or Nate Scheelhaase. Retread head coaches rarely have long term success, especially on their third team.
As a fan who has been desperate for this team to be aggressive and admit ‘The Standard’ has been outpaced by the rest of the league, I saw this as an opportunity to finally inject some new and innovative ideas and chart a new course for the direction of the franchise. McCarthy represented more of the same. Highest possible floor, lowest possible ceiling. Win more games than you lose.
So I fired out a reactionary piece.
Besides maybe the Indiana piece (which earned me plenty of hate online and in my DMs), no piece flowed out of me like that one. Is was an experiment in real time writing, letting my personal thoughts and pour out of me in the idea of crafting an engaging and earnest piece of sports entertainment.
The problem with reactionary opinions and stances—and sharing those online—is you don’t leave much room for nuance, or reconsideration.
So with some time and space, and the second preseason game behind us - my views on the McCarthy hire, and the Steelers this season, have changed. I still have issues with the process (it never really seemed like anyone BUT Big Mike was ever a serious candidate, the only one who was granted an in-person interview), but I think I have a better idea why he was hired, and looking through it from that lens, I feel a lot better about the decision, if the process itself still remained flawed.
Let’s discuss this and some more topics ahead of the Steelers season.
Mike McCarthy Isn’t Here to Win a Super Bowl; He’s Here to Find the Next Quarterback
When looking back to the initial moment of McCarthy’s hiring, I was most frustrated with the decision because it felt that it in no way did it move the needle on the Steelers eventually becoming a championship contender. It felt aimed at having the most possible success in 2026, as ownership and the front office want to avoid a down year at all costs.
That was wrong.
Not in the sense of “this new coach will turn them into a Super Bowl team” that any fan hopes when their team hires someone, but in the larger picture.
The true reality is the the only way the Steelers can hope to get back into the elite of the NFL, is by finding a franchise quarterback.
Sure, some teams in recent years have proven and shown that if you have a truly elite defense (the Eagles, the Seahawks last year), you can get by with just an average or slightly above QB. The Steelers tried that model and unfortunately wasted the prime window of what was an elite defense, unable to find even average QB play.
[date of steelers QB play since Roethlisberger retired]
The majority of true contenders (particularly in the AFC) have a difference maker at the game’s most important position.
When looking at the hire through the perspective of being mostly focused on finding that, McCarthy is actually the perfect hire.
Yes, he is the first head coach in Pittsburgh since before the 1970s with an offensive background, but for all the knocks on McCarthy the one thing he does have on his resume is extensive work with elite quarterbacks: Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott.
Obviously his work in identifying and developing Rodgers into a four time MVP and first ballot Hall of Famer carries most of the weight there, but out of any candidate available to them, there clearly was no one else with the kind of experience working with, and developing signal callers than McCarthy had. Sure, a young dynamic coordinator would have been fun, but the Steelers elected to go with someone who not only has extensive head coaching experience—this is a veteran team after all that just made the playoffs—but one who has a proven track record working with the most important position in the game.
Management and ownership rightfully realized until the Steelers figure out who their next quarterback is, their ceiling is only so high. Dak Prescott’s evolution from a fourth round pick into an All-Pro QB who led the NFL in passing touchdowns under McCarthy is probably the most encouraging signal that he can identify and develop a raw prospect into a star, something Pittsburgh will likely have to do given the strength of the defense makes it unlikely they will be picking prospects in the top five of drafts (where the best QB prospects typically go), and they don’t seem to have the draft capital required to trade up next year for one.
McCarthy does not need to be the next coach to lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl.
He probably won’t be, and that’s fine.
The entirety of McCarthy’s tenure in Pittsburgh should be based on one factor alone: did he find and begin the development of the next franchise QB.
Whether that is Will Howard, Drew Allar, or someone to be drafted in the next year or two, when all is said and done if the Steelers either already have a young dynamic and possible star player at the position or at least are bad enough to be in a position to draft one when McCarthy’s tenure is up, it will have been a success.
The Will Howard and Drew Allar Project
The most riveting storyline of the Steelers entire offseason and preseason so far, has been centered around two players who more than likely will not play a single down in the regular season. There was some hope Will Howard, last year’s sixth round pick on the back of a national championship at Ohio State, could ascend to the backup role this year, and he and Allar could both be on the roster, but it is now clear from the two preseason games that neither QB is ready for real game action.
While both showed signs of promise in the preseason opener against Green Bay, the QBs showed equal signs of struggle in the follow up Friday night against the Jets.
Can the Steelers afford to keep two project QBs on the 53 man roster?
Howard as only a sixth round pick, figures to be the odd man out given the Steelers signed Allar to a three year entry level deal. Allar’s physical tools and arm talent will give him a much longer runway to prove himself than Howard will get.
The staff clearly didn’t see enough from Howard to feel comfortable with him as the everyday backup. There are only so many valuable practice reps to go around during the regular season, so splitting those between two prospects who need as many as they can get while also making sure Rodgers and Rudolph are ready to play, seems unwise.
Again, it says something about the state of the Steelers and where they are that the biggest focus of the preseason is around if they will take three or four QBs on the roster.
If either plays a single snap this season things will have gone horribly wrong (or right depending on if it positions them to draft a first round QB prospect), but it will be interesting to see how this new offensive staff treats quarterback development.
Why hasn’t Joey Porter Jr. been signed yet?
The fun thing about football is all 11 players on the field really matter.
The reality is there are a few premium positions that hold outsized weight in the expected value and impact on winning games.
Those positions are widely regarded as: quarterback, left tackle, edge rusher, and corner back.
These can’t be the only good players on your team, but if you have a truly elite player at one of these positions they can elevate the team in a way other positions just can’t.
Even before Ben Roethlisberger retired, the Steelers have struggled to find a number one cornerback; someone who can shut down opposing receivers and limit their passing attack by nullifying their best player (or at least containing him). As passing offenses have exploded in the NFL over the last decade, the need for someone who can come in and at a bare minimum at least manage the other team’s biggest outside receiving threat has become imperative.
Since the retirement of Ike Taylor in 2015, the Steelers spent six draft picks in a four year period on corner, and only one turned into a respectable starter in Cameron Sutton. They didn’t draft a single one from 2019-2022. Also dabbling in free-agency, the result was a revolving door of corners from Joe Haden (good) to Artie Burns (bust) and Ahkello Witherspoon (bad) plagued the Steelers as they lacked someone who could limit opposing receivers.
So when a prospect who had been projected to be the first cornerback off the board in the 2022 draft, and is literally the son of a Steelers legend, fell to them at the first pick in the second round–and then proceeded to blossom into a very good to arguably elite corner it’s an absolute no-brainer they should lock that player down for the long term right?
Young star player at a premium position of need while you aren’t paying a QB big contract money eating away at your salary cap space.
Apparently the Steelers are hesitant to make that commitment.
Contract talks with Porter have reached an “impasse”, and it remains to be seen if he will be signed by the beginning of the season as the corner has not been participating in training camp or the preseason.
In some sense, the Steelers stance makes sense. Porter struggled early in his career, especially with penalties, but over the last few years has truly emerged as a very good defender. Last year Porter’s targeted completion % was below 50%, and he was only targeted 66 times, giving up a measly 333 yards given up to receivers over the course of the season. His completion percentage allowed ranks top among cornerbacks, but the more advanced coverage metrics rank him in the top 20 of his position, not the elite tier.
Porter also only has three career interceptions, a byproduct of not being targeted frequently but something you still hope is higher if paying an CB elite money.
So, I get it, it’s not a complete slam dunk of a decision.
Porter is very good, but debatable if elite–and the fact the Steelers have a new defensive coordinator and totally new scheme makes it all the more difficult to predict how he will perform.
At the same time, the Steelers don’t have much leverage as their cornerback outlook outside of Porter would mostly be classified as a disaster. If they don’t sign Porter you are going to be forced to either 1) sign one in free agency which is often very expensive 2) go through the whole draft and development process again with a position where it normally takes 3-5 years for a player to reach his potential or starting caliber (CB remains one of the positions that is extremely difficult for rookies to come into the NFL and play right away, as opposed to running-back or receiver).
Compounding the fact Porter has never caused any off the field issues or drama, is a local kid, and that the Steelers have handed out money to veterans on the decline (more on this later)—it’s curious the front office is now choosing now to play hardball over contracts.
The longer the contract saga drags on with Porter, the worse for the Steelers in the short and long term.
Offensive Line:Drafted,Not Settled
I have been a Steelers fan for over two decades.
I can count on one hand the number of years where the offensive line hasn't been a concern.
It just seems to be the nature of the sport, where every year in August you read reports that THIS year the offensive line looks to be really strong. Then games roll around, and you immediately realize you are in for another year of your quarterback running for his life, and running-backs having to avoid three guys before reaching the line of scrimmage.
The Steelers offensive line should be good, and unlike cornerback, the O-line room is one where they have invested a significant amount of draft capital.
In the last three drafts alone, they have taken three tackles (all in the first round), and a center in the second round. The front office has also done really good work at finding some under the radar players that seem to be functionally reliable players like Mason McCormick and Dylan Cook.
The tackle situation, those most responsible for blocking the edge rushers of other teams, remains the biggest question marks for the Steelers.
Troy Fautanu looked solid in his first full healthy season last year at Right Tackle, especially in pass protection giving up only two sacks over 634 passing snaps, but he ranks well below average in run grades across the board. At least for the time being, Fautanu has shifted back to his collegiate position at Left Tackle, so can those metrics improve while switching back to his original position is something to monitor.
2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones is recovering from a neck fusion surgery, and is also dealing with a position switch after failing to really prove he can be a trusted LT. So far in both games, and according to preseason reporting, Jones has looked generally out of place and rhythm at Right Tackle and gave up two brutal sacks against the Jets.
The Steelers declined Jones’ fifth year option this offseason, but given his pedigree and the fact the Steelers traded up in the first round to get him back in the 2023 Draft, it would be a huge indictment on the front office and both Tomlin and McCarthy’s coaching staffs if another first round pick in Pittsburgh does not last past his first contract (TJ Watt from 2017 is the last first round pick of the Steelers to receive a contract extension).
The Steelers invested another first round pick at tackle this year in Max Iheanachor, who has tremendous athletic upside but did not start playing football until he was 21, so will need more development time than someone with extensive football experience. Iheanachor has also been sidelined in the preseason with an injury–losing valuable developmental reps, which is not ideal.
With 42 year old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Steelers line is going to have to hold up in pass protection if they have any hope of stretching the field and not forcing Rodgers to get the ball out in under three seconds as was the case last year, and given his lack of mobility that was exposed against better defenses last year, the offensive line really needs to take a step forward this year if the Steelers merely want to get back to the playoffs.
The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line over the last few drafts, but the group still remains more of a question mark than a finished product at this point.
The TJ Watt Conversation
When I was a kid growing up in the mid 2000s, I had family with New England ties. My grandfather specifically, really enjoyed watching those championship videos of the Red Sox and Patriots teams in the middle of their dynastic runs.
Some in Pittsburgh would consider this a form of child abuse.
One thing I always took away from those documentaries, particularly the Patriots ones led by the heartless genius architect Bill Belichick – was the key to sustaining long term success and keeping a championship window open, was knowing when to move on from certain players.
Success, often begets over-loyalty to players teams win with, and they generally keep players around longer than they should because of the emotion and nostalgia of winning. This leads to overpayments, too much money and space tied up in players whose best days might’ve already happened.
The Steelers should never have really had that problem with any player on the roster given they have not won a playoff game in a decade, let a lone a championship. But their loyalty to star players, even ones who probably deserved it, likely prolonged their mediocrity.
TJ Watt has been one of the best defensive players in the NFL, by and large, since his first game.
He is a likely a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Defensive player of the year award winner.
He is one of those elite players and a game changing position I mentioned earlier.
I believe the Steelers should have traded Watt in the summer of 2025, and they are now paying a player elite money who has not proved to be a difference maker in the playoffs and is in decline.
Last summer, Watt was two years removed from his (at the time) record setting 2021 defensive season, in which he set a league record for sacks and won Defensive Player Of The Year. His 2023/2024 seasons remained elite– registering double digit sacks seasons and leading the NFL in forced fumbles.
He was a true game wrecker and won the Steelers multiple games they had no business winning, simply by making gamebreaking plays through sacks or forced fumbles.
However, by the end of the 2024 season Watt was 30 years old, and it had become clear the Steelers were not remotely close to being competitive. They continued to make the playoffs, where they would lose by double digits to clearly superior teams.
Watt hadn’t been a difference maker in those games, and the 2024 loss to the Ravens Watt registered zero sacks, zero tackles for loss in a largely non-competitive game.
For his career, Watt has played in five playoff games, where he has registered 14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
The Steelers have lost all those games, except for one, by double digit points.
This isn’t all on Watt, but my point is: Did paying Watt a massive contract at the age of 30 really make sense, when they could have received massive amounts of value for him given his still elite production?
After that 3-year, $123m extension last summer, Watt saw a decline in pretty much every metric across the board.
His sack total tied for the second lowest of his career, with the lowest being a season in which he missed 10 games with injury.
The Steelers season once again ended with a blowout playoff loss, with Watt barely registering as a factor, as the Texans embarrassed the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
TJ Watt is a great player, but is he still an elite player?
The Steelers are paying him like one, but his playoff performances combined with lackluster back half of seasons and being on the wrong age of 30 gives me serious concerns.
The Steelers defense, under new coordinator Patrick Graham, hopefully is improved from a schematic perspective over the lackluster coaching from Teryl Austin, and can get Watt back into elite form. Ultimately, Watt is the difference maker in this group, and he needs to be that elite player again if the Steelers hope to not have regrets about a missed opportunity to catapult their rebuild with a haul of premium picks and assets they could have got for him two years ago.
The Steelers for the first time in 18 years, have a new coach.
There is change in the air, and that has reinvigorated my interest in the team.
As high as their competitive floor has been, the Mike Tomlin era had grown incredibly stale—you always knew they would win a few games that they shouldn’t, almost lose every game against a better team, and drop some questionable ones in there.
Never embarrassing, but never a serious threat to challenge for a Super Bowl. A sad reality when you made your whole identity around championship and hosting Lombardi trophies.
It was long overdue for a coaching change, and Tomlin stepping down provided that opening.
McCarthy was probably the least sexy hire they could have made, but once the games start none of that matters.
My official prediction for the Steelers is once again they will win more games than they lose, lose in the first round of the playoffs, and find themselves navigating the mushy middle of the NFL for another year.
Honestly, what happens with Drew Allar’s development or lack thereof, the offensive line growth, and the Porter contract situation matter more in the grand scheme of things than any individual wins or losses this year.
Thank god football is almost back.
Why would we extend JPJ when we can just find a fourth round CB in the draft like Cortez Allen again
Dante, I enjoyed this article. I’m sure Mike appreciates the apology. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting the apology for your revisionist history on the joy and excitement The GOAT and the Patriots brought to your youth.