Mike McCarthy takes charge of hometown Steelers
The Pittsburgh native returns to the team he supported as a child after Mike Tomlin’s departure.
Mike McCarthy has returned to Pittsburgh as head coach of the Steelers, taking charge of the club he supported while growing up in the city’s Greenfield area.
The 62-year-old was approached for an interview on 21 January after Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 years as head coach. Steelers owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan were involved in the interview process.
McCarthy spent 23 years in Green Bay and five in Dallas before accepting the Pittsburgh role. He said becoming coach of his hometown team was a “bucket list” achievement he had never expected.
The interview date carried personal significance for McCarthy, coinciding with the anniversary of his younger brother Joe’s death. He told Fox Sports that he spent part of the day meeting with the Steelers before joining his family for dinner.
McCarthy has described leading the Steelers as both a source of pride and a significant responsibility. His appointment places a Pittsburgh native and lifelong Steelers supporter at the centre of the club’s next chapter following Tomlin’s departure.
