Total Pro Sports
A season after the Dallas Cowboys fired him, following a 7-10 record, Mike McCarthy could soon be back in the NFL. The veteran coach had a 13-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Dallas for five campaigns.
Just one season after Jerry Jones replaced him with Brian Schottenheimer, another traditional NFL team could acquire his services. ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that the Pittsburgh Steelers will speak with McCarthy about their head-coaching vacancy. Schefter adds that McCarthy previously worked with Steelers general manager Omar Khan in New Orleans in 2000.
Steelers are expected to speak with former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy about their head coach vacancy. McCarthy is from Pittsburgh, and worked with Steelers GM Omar Khan in New Orleans in 2000. pic.twitter.com/mR3nOMxWCA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2026
After 19 years in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Steelers’ head coach on Tuesday. The AFC North squad couldn’t move past the Houston Texans in the 2025 wild-card round, which resulted in Tomlin’s calling it quits with the six-time Super Bowl champions.
More reasons make Mike McCarthy an appealing candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is from the city, worked with the guy who will make the hiring and also spent over a decade working with Aaron Rodgers.
While the feeling is that Rodgers won’t return next year since he joined the Steelers to play under Mike Tomlin, having the chance of running it back with McCarthy could change his mind. They posted a 113-60-1 record in 14 years with the Packers, including a Super Bowl, two league MVPs and eight Pro Bowl selections for Rodgers.
The lack of playoff success affected their relationship down the stretch, but those regular-season numbers were remarkable. Time will tell if McCarthy or any other coach can postpone Rodgers’ retirement for at least one more season.
