Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy as Head Coach

The Pittsburgh native becomes the fourth Steelers head coach since 1969 and has won a Super Bowl as a head coach.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football

Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy as Head Coach

Live Poll

Do you feel more connected to your community because of the local team?

The Pittsburgh Steelers named Mike McCarthy their head coach, the fourth in the franchise since 1969. The Steelers won their first game under McCarthy, a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Why it matters

McCarthy, a Greenfield native who previously coached the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, decided to return home to lead the team he grew up watching. The hire places a Super Bowl-winning coach at the helm of a franchise now leading the AFC North.

The Steelers hold a 6-2 record and sit atop the AFC North after beating the Falcons 20-13 in Week 1. The extraction does not say how the team's record compares to the rest of the division beyond first place, nor what the remaining schedule holds.

The players

Mike McCarthy

A Greenfield native and former head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys who won a Super Bowl as a head coach.

Pittsburgh Steelers

An NFL franchise based in Pittsburgh that named its fourth head coach since 1969 in this hire.

Jaquan Brisker

A Steelers safety from Wilkinsburg who played for Penn State after transferring from Lackawanna College and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2022.

The details

The Steelers announced McCarthy as the newest head coach, citing his Pittsburgh roots and his experience winning a Super Bowl. Defensive back Jaquan Brisker, who grew up in Wilkinsburg, intercepted a pass in the Week 1 win over Atlanta.

2020: Christian Kuntz joins the Steelers.
2022: Jaquan Brisker is drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round.
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season: Steelers defeat the Falcons 20-13.
November 6, 2026: Steelers sit at 6-2 heading into their bye week.

Season Trajectory

McCarthy's hire is the fourth head coaching change for the Steelers since 1969, a franchise that has rarely changed leaders. The team's 6-2 start places it in first place in the AFC North as it heads into the bye week.

The Steelers' 6-2 record and AFC North lead make them a team to watch for playoff positioning. Fantasy managers rostering Pittsburgh players should track how McCarthy's staffing and play-calling shape weekly production.

The takeaway

A coaching change at a long-stable franchise can reshape a season's direction quickly, and the Steelers' early results will show whether McCarthy's first moves pay off. Readers following the team should watch the AFC North standings through the bye week.