Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II during the 2024 NFL owners meetings on March 26, 2024 in Orlando, Fla. — Alan Saunders / Steelers Now
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is never shy to express his opinion. And let’s just say, Smith is not pleased with Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II‘s decision to hire 62-year-old Greenfield native Mike McCarthy to be the team’s next head coach.
“You go out and get a coach that’s considered a lateral move who, by the way, is 27 years older than the previous coaches that you hired when you hired them, giving an infusion to the Steeler Nation and the Steelers fanbase,” Smith recently said on First Take. “I’m just looking at this man here, I’m talking about Art Rooney and the quotes. You’ve given the Pittsburgh Steeler fanbase nothing to be excited about.”
Smith thinks it was an conservative and uninspiring hire. Including McCarthy, the Steelers brought in just two other coaches for in-person interviews — Brian Flores and Anthony Weaver.
“He didn’t talk about the paying customer, because you’ve given them nothing to be excited about. Absolutely nothing,” Smith said.
Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II during the team’s Hall of Honor announcement on July 29, 2024. — Alan Saunders / Steelers Now
Stephen A. wasn’t done. He continued to blast Rooney. Even stating that he’s not on the same level as his dad Dan Rooney.
“You ain’t won a playoff game in nine years. You’ve taken over in 2017, you’re 0-6 in the playoffs since that particular moment in time,” Smith told Rooney. “You’re going to hire this man in his 60s who, by the way, was pushed out of Green Bay, was ultimately pushed out of Dallas with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott as his quarterback.”
“Who the hell do you think you are? You’re talking about a man born on third base thinking he hit a triple, “Smith said. “What the hell is that? You don’t talk to Steeler Nation like that. Their loyalty, their dedication, their commitment to you. They didn’t deserve better than an answer like that? That’s what you tell them? ‘We got this, step aside and watch what we do.’
“Who the hell do you think you are? You ain’t your uncle, you ain’t your daddy, you ain’t your family members. You’re a Rooney, but you ain’t them because your record proves you ain’t them. You don’t talk to Steeler Nation like that. This is unacceptable.”
Rooney defended his decision to hire McCarthy last month. He’s not concerned about the outside noise. He thinks McCarthy is the right coach to lead the team into a new era of Steelers football.
“We’re really not worried about winning the initial press conference. It’s about picking the coach we believe will help us win games,” Rooney said, via Bob Labriola of Steelers.com on Jan. 25. “And social media really doesn’t enter into it. And none of that will matter once we’re starting to play games.
“The message for our fans is we’re very excited. We think we have a coach who is well-equipped to lead us into the next winning phase of Steelers football, and that’s what it’s all about. I think they’re going to love Coach Mike.”
Mentioned In This Article: Art Rooney II Dan Rooney Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Steelers News Stephen A. Smith