Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 3:01 PM

Last updated Sep 9, 2026

Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach
Summary

The Pittsburgh Steelers open the 2026 season with Mike McCarthy as head coach following the departure of Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons. The organization moved on from Tomlin due to a lack of postseason success despite consistent regular-season winning records. To address offensive issues, the team signed wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The team also expects a larger role for tight end Darnell Washington, who showed high efficiency on short targets last season. Questions remain regarding the health of an aging defense and the ability of the new coaching staff to improve upon previous playoff results. The Steelers enter the season with mid-tier projections across several offensive position groups.

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Status Watch
  • Mike McCarthy takes over as head coach after 19 seasons of Mike Tomlin.
  • Michael Pittman Jr. joins the roster as a primary receiver for Aaron Rodgers.
  • The Steelers enter the season with an aging defense and a 42-year-old quarterback.
  • Darnell Washington is expected to see a bigger workload at tight end.
  • The organization seeks to improve postseason performance after multiple early exits.
Latest Updates
  • 3:01 PMYahoo SportsSteelers 2026 season preview: The adventures of Mike & Mike
What they're saying
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From one head coach named Mike with a frustrating string of playoff losses to... well, you get it.

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