This is important to him.
Beyond the prestige of it being one of just 32 such jobs in existence, and the fact he's working at the highest level of his chosen profession, and the benefits this career path has provided for him and his family, a career that began as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State in 1987.
All of that is great, but it wasn't 10 seconds into his opening remarks during a Tuesday afternoon news conference at Acrisure Stadium's PNC Champions Club when Mike McCarthy showed his true colors.
President Art Rooney II opened with some brief remarks and then handed it over to McCarthy, who becomes the fourth man since 1969 to hold the job of head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"All right," began McCarthy. "Here we go. Thank you, Art."
McCarthy glanced down at the outline of what he had prepared to say, and in those two seconds it became apparent he was going to need a moment.
"I thought I would at least be able to get started," said McCarthy who quickly pulled it together to steady his voice and stem the tears.
"Oftentimes, coaches and players, you put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in those new colors. But to be blessed beyond any measure one day to put on the colors you wore since you were brought home … I apologize. I told you not to sit my family down here in front. This is so unfair … When you were brought home (as a newborn) from Mercy Hospital."
A moment to provide geographical context: Mercy Hospital is 3.3 miles away from Acrisure Stadium, about 14 minutes by car.
"I want to thank Art Rooney and Omar Khan and Dan Rooney and the entire Steelers organization for the trust they've placed in me to represent one of the most storied franchises in all of sports.
"I understand and embrace the responsibility and the privilege and the weight that comes with this stewardship. This city, this franchise, this fan base means the world to me, because Pittsburgh's my world. And it's just awesome to be back here."
McCarthy is a seasoned coach who comes to this job having had success at two other storied NFL franchises – Green Bay and Dallas – and watching him command the room on Tuesday in that setting made it obvious he is sincere.
"I do want to thank two men I'm very fortunate to call friends. Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher," continued McCarthy. "They represented this organization with such class, and I'm honored, honored to follow in their footsteps. They left the proverbial cupboard full, for sure. My family, my loves: my wife, Jessica; kids, Alex and Danny, Jack, George, Gabby, Izzy; my parents, Joe and Nell McCarthy; my sisters Kellie, Ellen, and Colleen, and the rest of the crew that's here – we can finally openly wear our Steelers swag, so let's get it.
"My heart is full. My focus is singular. And it's time to bring another championship back to this great city. And with that, I just want to make sure that when we do get that trophy, the seventh trophy in the case, we'll start that victory parade at 1137 Greenfield Ave."
Rooney and General Manager Omar Khan both also were available for questions, but it was mostly McCarthy for the next 40 minutes.
He was asked about strategy and personnel and the roster and Aaron Rodgers specifically. And about assembling his staff and his philosophy. McCarthy was as thoughtful and clear and forthcoming with his answers as any NFL head coach has been or is in today's NFL. Never did he lose his appreciation about being in this job and the enthusiasm for getting to work on doing it.
"But Coach Noll … , that's when you look at someone you like to emulate, and then what Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin have done here, trust me, I have great respect for that. Hell, I can't even get through the press conference. I'm looking forward to getting started tomorrow. And this game is about winning, and the game has changed."
In some ways the game has, and countering those changes has to be a consideration during the roster building phase, where McCarthy is on-the-record as being an advocate of both free agency and the draft. Then as spring turns to summer, the intensity ratchets up. That's life in the NFL.
"I love coaching," said McCarthy. "I think the biggest thing is the interaction every day with the players, the coaches, the support group. The lineup every single day and the work, and to do hard stuff with people who are committed, I mean, there's nothing like it."
Since McCarthy has been at it since that grad assistant gig at Fort Hays State back in 1987, he has to love it. And now he's getting the chance to do what he loves in his favorite place on earth with a chance to add to the legacy of his hometown team. There is nowhere he'd rather be than right here right now.
"To have this opportunity, it just seemed like it was meant to be on so many different levels," said McCarthy. "Sundays are incredible. But Tuesdays, game plan days, are still one of my favorite days. There's so many little things about the coaching profession I love.
"But the fact I'm getting up every day, grabbing that cup of coffee and hitting it, getting it, and it's all about winning. I'm just fortunate that I had the opportunity to do it again."
As Mike McCarthy said earlier. His heart is full. His focus is singular.
