Mike McCarthy’s appointment in Pittsburgh has been met with optimism, but one forgotten statistical snapshot from his time with the San Francisco 49ers raises legitimate concerns.
A look back at the 2005 season shows just how badly things can go when offensive development stalls.
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McCarthy’s 2005 49ers offense ranked among the worst ever
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
In 2005, Mike McCarthy served as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers during one of the bleakest offensive seasons in modern NFL history. The numbers from that year paint an uncomfortable picture.
The 49ers finished the season with just 3,587 total offensive yards, ranking 32nd in the NFL. Scoring was equally alarming, as the offense averaged only 14.9 points per game, the 30th-best mark in the league.
Quarterback play was chaotic. Rookie Alex Smith struggled badly, throwing just one touchdown against 11 interceptions while rotating in and out of the lineup. San Francisco cycled through Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, and Cody Pickett, never finding stability under center.
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Advanced metrics were even more damning. The unit posted an offensive DVOA of -37.5%, the fourth-worst mark by any offense since 1950. By nearly every measurable standard, it was a historically ineffective attack.
Why this history matters for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The concern for Pittsburgh is not that McCarthy is incapable of success, his resume clearly proves otherwise, but that his past includes extended periods where quarterback development and offensive identity completely unraveled.
The Steelers now find themselves in a situation that demands clarity at quarterback and cohesion across the offense. With uncertainty still surrounding the position and expectations immediately high, the margin for error is slim.
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McCarthy’s 2005 season serves as a reminder that experience alone does not guarantee offensive stability. When systems fail to adapt to personnel or young quarterbacks are rushed without support, results can spiral quickly.
For the Steelers, the challenge will be ensuring that history does not repeat itself, and that McCarthy’s lessons from one of the NFL’s worst offenses ever translate into smarter, more resilient solutions this time around.
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