When the Pittsburgh Steelers hired the 62-year-old Mike McCarthy to be the 17th head coach in franchise history, replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 years at the helm, they pivoted from what they had done previously in head coaching searches.

Instead of hiring a young, up-and-coming defensive mind, the Steelers went in the opposite direction, hiring an experienced, older head coach with a strong resume.

It was a bit puzzling, considering the franchise needed a reset. But in the end, hiring the Pittsburgh native was the move as the Steelers look to remain competitive while bringing in an offensive mind in McCarthy to try and fix their issues on that side of the ball.

Within the NFL coaching-change cycle, McCarthy wasn’t the biggest name hired or even the splashiest. But anonymous NFL executives and coaches who spoke with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe to rank the hirings universally praised McCarthy.

In the rankings, McCarthy landed at No., behind only John Harbaugh with the New York Giants, Kevin Stefanski with the Atlanta Falcons, and Jesse Minter with the Baltimore Ravens.

“Everyone expected a long-term hire, but Mike can be a great hire for the short term to get the organization in the right direction,” a coach told Howe regarding McCarthy. “With or without [Aaron] Rodgers, he will be good to give the offense an identity.”

The Steelers need that, especially in today’s NFL. McCarthy and his West Coast offensive principles will provide that. Though the question remains about quarterback and what the future holds for Aaron Rodgers ahead of his age-43 season, McCarthy has had success with the position throughout his career.

He’s raved about second-year pro Will Howard since getting the job, too, and the Steelers are entrusting McCarthy to find their long-term answer at the position. 

While his age is a concern, it’s not as if McCarthy is at the end of his rope in the NFL. He can coach for five to seven years, which is plenty of time for the Steelers to figure out the quarterback position.

“McCarthy has won games everywhere he’s been,” an executive said. “It’s the coolest story ever to coach Green Bay, Dallas and Pittsburgh. He grew up there. It’s really cool. He’s a really good man. I assume they’ll play the same defense and same schematics.

“Can you fix the QB position and get some youth?”

It’s a really cool story, no doubt. It was clear just how much landing the Steelers’ head coaching job meant to Mike McCarthy at his introductory press conference, and that resonated with the fan base. But that good feeling and those good vibes will only last so long.

It will become about the success — or failure — on the field with McCarthy quickly. He believes he’s taking over a playoff team, one that can get back there and potentially make a run in 2026. But it’s an older team with no real identity and major questions at quarterback and the profile of an older, highly paid defense.

The Steelers are in a tough situation, and it’s a hard coaching job right out of the chute. But the Steelers have the experience at the top to count on in this transition.