Inside Mike McCarthy’s vision for the Steelers offense
Mike McCarthy explains how environment and philosophy will shape a new-look Steelers offense and why he’s taking a hands-on approach.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era on offense, with Mike McCarthy set to call plays in 2026. It marks a notable shift for a franchise that has long been defined by defensive-minded leadership under Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. Speaking on “ The Pat McAfee Show ,” McCarthy made his intentions clear.
“Yes, we certainly are when I'm calling the plays. That's right,” he responded with a grin when McAfee joked the Steelers would be running up the scoreboard. For McCarthy, the decision is rooted in experience.
“I didn’t call [plays] twice in my career, and I think they clearly were the right decisions. I didn’t in 2015 and didn’t from 2020 to 2022. You learn from that,” he explained.
While he has delegated play-calling in the past, this situation calls for a different approach. “I think it's important as a head coach when you bring something specific to the table that your team reflects that,” McCarthy added. That philosophy appears central to what he wants to build in Pittsburgh.