Mike McCarthy Ready for First Game as Steelers Head Coach: ‘The Honeymoon’s Kind of Over’
· Yahoo Sports
Mike McCarthy Ready for First Game as Steelers Head Coach: ‘The Honeymoon’s Kind of Over’ originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mike McCarthy will be coaching his 19th season in the NFL when he takes the field with the Steelers on September 13. He’s ready to make an impact in his first coaching gig since 2024.
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McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin as head coach, a role the latter held in Pittsburgh for over 19 years. Tomlin is still under contract with the Steelers, but it’s McCarthy’s job after reportedly signing a long-term deal.
It’s not McCarthy’s first rodeo. He coached the Packers for 13 years. McCarthy won the Super Bowl with current Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers in 2010. McCarthy later spent five years with the Cowboys. He sat out the 2025 season. The 62-year-old only coached five losing seasons.
The Steelers went 1-2 in the preseason. Regardless, with the 2026 season officially underway, McCarthy believes it’s time to get serious as the Steelers prepare to host the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.
"We're all excited about our first opportunity to compete," McCarthy said via the Steelers’ website. "You're guaranteed 17 games. Obviously, it's our home opener, but really, I think the honeymoon's kind of over now."
McCarthy returns to coaching with Rodgers by his side, along with several high-profile receivers, running backs, and young backup QBs. He got a chance to know them all, while attempting to earn the trust of Steelers fans early on.
Rodgers competes in his final NFL season. McCarthy decided to bring four QBs aboard to start the season, with two young stars and a veteran behind Rodgers. After a few years, McCarthy is looking forward to being part of Rodgers’ last ride.
Since the 1969 season, the Steelers have only had three head coaches before McCarthy. McCarthy is a break from tradition compared to what generations of Steelers fans are used to. A Pittsburgh native, McCarthy understands and respects the expectations of being a Steelers coach.
"I'm at the point in my life at this age, I reflect more than I did 10, 15 years ago, so that's all part of it," McCarthy said. "Definitely, I've had time to do that. But the most important part of it is the fact that you're the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which I have a tremendous amount of pride in — not only being from here, but what the Pittsburgh Steelers stand for and the responsibility that myself and everybody has to this organization, and really for the players and coaches before us.
"So trust me, that lays on me every single day. It's important. It makes me jump out of bed."