It was first reported on Saturday afternoon that the Pittsburgh Steelers had agreed to hire Mike McCarthy as their next head coach.
Steelers president Art Rooney II discussed the decision on Monday during an interview with Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Number one, his record of success is undeniable,” Rooney said, according to Dulac. “I think he’s a great fit here. Obviously, he understands Pittsburgh. I think he understands our culture. Almost as important as his record of success is his record of handling quarterbacks and bringing along some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time that came along under his leadership. So there’s just a lot on his resume to like.”
McCarthy not only grew up in Pittsburgh but has had a long relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well.
Though Rodgers’ future with the Steelers is uncertain, bringing McCarthy to Pittsburgh likely can only further boost the chances that the four-time MVP plays one more season with the franchise.
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McCarthy was Rodgers’ head coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018 and the duo won the team’s last Super Bowl title during the 2010 season.
McCarthy is scheduled to be introduced as the Steelers next leader during a press conference on Tuesday at Acrisure Stadium.
Former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher praised the hiring of the 62-year-old, though the move has also led to backlash, notably by retired Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell.
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“The great thing about sports is everybody has their opinion,” Rooney said. “It is what it is. You know, you can’t worry about social media. You’ve got to make the best decision you can make. At the end of the day, if we win games, none of that is going to matter.”
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