When the Pittsburgh Steelers were in need of a new head coach this offseason, many hoped for a young and innovative mind to bring the franchise a fresh approach. Instead, Pittsburgh opted for Mike McCarthy and his 18 years of NFL head coaching experience. With that sort of tenure comes a wide network of connections and relationships that coaches will inevitably tap into when building out their staff.
While it’s hardly unique in the NFL for coaches to hire names they’ve worked with previously, some accused McCarthy of hiring his Green Bay buddies instead of the best people for Pittsburgh. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly doesn’t agree with that line of thinking.
“The majority of these coaches have worked with [McCarthy] in some capacity, knows what he wants, knows what he’s looking for, so they don’t have to hold back. I don’t know why people think that’s just a bad thing,” Kaboly said on The Larry and Big Man Show. “If I’m going to start a business, I’m gonna hire somebody that I know and I trust. That’s what he did.”
McCarthy’s staff is made up of many names that he’s worked with previously as a head coach in both Green Bay and Dallas. Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio and Patrick Graham were hired by McCarthy during his time as Packers head coach. Offensive line coach James Campen, Secondary Coach/Assistant Head Coach Joe Whitt Jr., Defensive Backs Coach Jason Simmons and Inside Linebackers Coach Scott McCurley have all served on McCarthy staffs for at least nine seasons.
Some coaches have brief connections to McCarthy as a player. Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman played for McCarthy at Pitt while new Assistant Offensive Line Coach Jahri Evans and returning Quarterbacks Coach Tom Arth played under McCarthy in Green Bay.
The logic in hiring so many familiar names is to be able to hit the ground running and seamlessly implement McCarthy’s systems without any growing pains. If McCarthy’s trusted circle can translate their chemistry into success on the field and ultimately wins, the doubt will fade. It’s understandable that Pittsburgh would bet on continuity and familiarity in a league where time is limited and many of their star players aging.
Time will ultimately tell whether the McCarthy hire and the makeup of his staff were the right move for the Steelers. McCarthy’s track record of winning made him attractive to Pittsburgh in the hiring process. He and his staff will need to tap into their experience to prove that it was the right decision.