Pittsburgh Steelers could make ‘intriguing’ veteran head coach decision that has divided fans

For the first time in 19 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be led by a new head coach.

Mike Tomlin announced his decision to step down, ending a remarkable, almost two-decade tenure in which the Steelers never had a losing season.

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Pittsburgh’s 30-6 blowout defeat to the Houston Texans extended the organisation’s nine-year streak without a playoff win, leading Tomlin to hang up the clipboard.

Tomlin has been tipped to take over from Sean McDermott as the new Buffalo Bills leader.

The 53-year-old will reportedly step away from coaching and is open to landing a broadcast role, but the changes on the horizon for Pittsburgh’s organisation will be huge.

With the Steelers searching for just their fourth head coach since 1969, it is a critical hire that they get right.

The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo has named an interesting target that Pittsburgh has already interviewed, but has fans divided.

“Mike Tomlin was the youngest head coach in the league, and, at the time, he won the Super Bowl two years later, the youngest coach ever to win the Super Bowl,” he told talkSPORT.

“Their formula previously has always been bringing a young guy, and he provides stability and continuity for decades, like decades plural. So you bring in a 62-year-old guy in Mike McCarthy. I think a lot of people are saying, ‘What does that get you?’ 

“They were looking at him as a guy who failed in Dallas, because he got fired. But as you dig deeper, deeper, the reason why I think the Steelers would be intrigued, first and foremost, is that he is a Pittsburgh guy. 

“Pittsburgh is a very blue-collar kind of town with a lot of working-class people. And then more importantly, he’s worked with several quarterbacks.

“And so the Steelers are kind of in this situation because they were never able to identify and develop the successor to Ben Roethlisberger, and the head coach/quarterback relationship is just such an important part of football.

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“And so really the selling point for Mike McCarthy would be this: ‘It’s a guy who knows offensive football, the league is trending more and more, you’ve got to score faster and more than the other team, it’s not about defense anymore, and this could be a guy that helps you find and develop that next quarterback.”

The potential acquisition of McCarthy has some Steelers fans divided.

“Not a bad idea, but given his age, he doesn’t fit in the mold of Cowher and Tomlin, who were hired in their mid-30s and stayed for a long time,” one fan posted on X.

“McCarthy is a fantastic coach from a draft and develop perspective. Expert culture builder. Game management? Average at best. Play caller? Sub-par,” another added.

“So we are just going to start doing with our coaches what we have been doing with our QBs for the last few years, get an old used-up one and see what he has left? Great plan…great plan,” noted a third.

Pittsburgh have interviewed multiple candidates for this role, including Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Los Angeles Rams DC Chris Shula.

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They have a second interview scheduled with Anthony Weaver, the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator, but, as of now, not McCarthy.

Whoever the new HC is will have large shoes to fill in a franchise expecting an immediate impact with supporters used to seeing wins.

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