Is Mike McCarthy winning over the Steelers’ roster?
Mike Tomlin had the loyalty of the Steelers’ locker room virtually to a man, but is Mike McCarthy winning over the roster? A few current players attended his introductory press conference, and others have already met with him (Christian Kuntz confirming that he did, for example). Frankly, we haven’t had an introductory press conference for a while, so I don’t know what the norm is.
I think it’s even more important than normal for the Steelers to have Mike McCarthy win over the roster. Obviously, they are moving on from one of the most iconic head coaches in generations. Tomlin held great sway, and you’ve had players talking for years about not wanting to play for another head coach. Now they have no choice, but they have some say, perhaps, in whom they play for.
A part of me believes that’s why the Steelers wanted McCarthy. It might be easier to convince guys like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward to buy in for McCarthy than for somebody like Anthony Weaver or Nate Scheelhaase. The fact that he’s “a Pittsburgh guy” is just a fraction of the equation, but it doesn’t hurt.
According to Mike DeFabo, some players he spoke to were surprised by the hire. They assumed the Steelers would do what they’ve done before, and Mike McCarthy doesn’t fit that mold. He is considerably older, and he has an offensive background. But he would have also come home from the hospital as a newborn swaddled in a Terrible Towel if it had existed yet.
But he’s here now, and he’s introducing himself to his new players. We’re not going to hear much for months, of course, considering it’s still January. And it’s not like anybody is going to publicly call out the move. But players on the Steelers’ roster grew up watching Mike McCarthy just like they grew up watching Mike Tomlin. They’ve both been around the block a long time, and they have the credentials.
I don’t know if McCarthy was the best man for the job of Steelers head coach, nor do the players. I do know that he was the most qualified, and for an organization that didn’t choose to move on, the best way to continue what they felt was already a good thing. Now he just has to convince the players of that. Which he may already be doing.
The Steelers are out of the playoffs, exiting in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017. With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The playoffs are still going, but for us and the Steelers, we are transitioning to offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you cover loses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.