Pittsburgh Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy as Head Coach

For the first time since 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made a noteworthy head coaching hire this offseason—bringing in Mike McCarthy. Team legend Jerome Bettis has expressed excitement about the decision.

Mike Tomlin, who led the team for 19 years, has stepped down after an impressive tenure that included a Super Bowl win and an unbroken record of non-losing seasons. Bettis acknowledged the significant legacy Tomlin leaves behind.

Bettis stated, “I think [McCarthy]’s definitely a fundamentals-type coach. He’s won a championship, so he’s a championship-caliber head coach. He knows what success looks like.”

McCarthy, previously head coach of the Green Bay Packers, guided the team to victory against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. Now, more than a decade later, McCarthy embarks on a new journey with the Steelers, once again alongside Rodgers.

Bettis shared enthusiasm over McCarthy’s fresh start at the Steelers, focusing on his leadership abilities, “We’re excited that he’s starting the next chapter of the Steelers organization in terms of a leadership perspective.”

Reflecting on Tomlin’s departure, Bettis conceded that while he found it surprising, considering the length of Tomlin’s tenure, the change wasn’t entirely unexpected. “I was surprised, but in the same breath, I was not,” Bettis explained. “He had been there 19 years. I mean that’s a hell of a run in terms of the timetable.”

Jerome Bettis, a cherished figure in the Steelers franchise, is grateful for Tomlin’s contributions. Known as “The Bus,” Bettis Hall of Fame career is marked by impressive stats—including running for over 13,000 yards and 91 touchdowns.

Beyond football, Bettis will appear in the American Century Tournament from July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, and viewers can catch the event on NBC and Peacock.