By Christian Gonzales, Digital Content Producer
Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is joining another historic NFL team.
The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to hire McCarthy as their next head coach, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday, per sources. The team later announced they’ve verbally agreed to terms with McCarthy.
McCarthy, 62, takes over the helm in Pittsburgh after Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 seasons with the organization on Jan. 13.
McCarthy, who spent this past season away from the sidelines, becomes the 17th head coach in Steelers history and the fourth since 1969. The Steelers previously had Chuck Noll (1969-1991), Bill Cowher (1992-2006) and Tomlin (2007-2025) coaching consistency that provided the organization with stability for the last couple of decades. The Steelers hope McCarthy, who grew up in Pittsburgh, can do the same.
The previous leaders in Pittsburgh were known for their defensive mindset, so the Steelers electing to go with McCarthy is a bit of a surprise. In this year’s coaching cycle, Pittsburgh interviewed six defensive coordinators but found their new head coach in McCarthy, who has plenty of experience in the NFL.