Behind the Steel Curtain
A new era of Pittsburgh Steelers football began on Tuesday afternoon inside the PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium. 62-year-old Greenfield native and Super Bowl XLV Champion Mike McCarthy is the 17th head coach in Steelers history.
Introduced alongside owner/president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan, McCarthy introduced his plan for the Steelers in his attempt to win his childhood team its seventh Lombardi Trophy. After taking the floor and saying an emphatic “Here We Go” as he rubbed his hands back and forth, McCarthy couldn’t even begin his opening statement without getting emotional.
“Oftentimes, coaches and players put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in those new colors,” McCarthy said before pausing and getting emotional again. “But to be blessed beyond any measure, one day to put on the colors you wore… when you came home from Mercy Hospital.”
McCarthy inherits a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016 and has been running in place the past three years with 10-7 seasons resulting in lopsided losses in the wild card round.
He understands the weight of being the Steelers’ leader and the responsibility at hand to ensure this fresh start ends
“I want to thank Art Rooney II, Omar Khan, Dan Rooney, and the entire Steelers organization for the trust they’ve placed in me to represent one of the most storied franchises in all of sports,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after a seventh consecutive playoff loss and a historic 19-year run leading the Steelers
“I understand and embrace the responsibility, privilege, and the weight that comes with this stewardship,” McCarthy said.
The amount of pride in being from Pittsburgh is evident from your neighbor or community, to Pat McAfee and others on national TV, to Joe Manganiello and Billy Gardell in Hollywood. Pittsburgh people love where they’re from. McCarthy is one and the same as the rest of Pittsburgh natives.
“This city, this franchise, this fan base means the world to me. Because Pittsburgh’s my world,” McCarthy said, tapping his chest. “It’s just awesome to be back here.”
McCarthy thanked friends Tomlin and Bill Cowher, whom he said represented the team with class, and he is honored to follow in their footsteps.
He thanked his family and said they can now proudly wear their Steelers swag and not hide the love they have for the team. But now the work begins to ensure the Steelers return to prominence.
“My heart is full, my focus is singular, and it’s time to bring another championship back to this great city,” McCarthy said. “With that, I just want to make sure that when we do get that seventh trophy in the case, we’ll start that victory parade at 1137 Greenfield Ave.”
