The Steelers made it official on Tuesday, introducing Mike McCarthy as their 17th head coach in team history. McCarthy becomes only the fourth head coach hired by the Steelers since 1969.
"I am pleased to announce the hiring of Mike McCarthy as our next head coach," said Steelers President Art Rooney II. "Mike brings a proven track record of success, championship experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a winning culture in the National Football League.
"Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated strong leadership, a commitment to player development, and the ability to adapt and evolve in a highly competitive league. His experience, preparation, and respect for the traditions of this organization align with the values that have defined the Pittsburgh Steelers for generations.
"We are confident that Mike is the right leader for our football team, and we look forward to working together as we pursue our goal of competing for championships and representing Steelers Nation with pride."
McCarthy brings 18 seasons of experience as a head coach in the NFL, 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2006-18) and five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2020-24).
McCarthy, who is a Pittsburgh native, has a 174-112-2 (.608) overall coaching record and has the fourth-most wins among active NFL coaches and 15th most in NFL history.
"Often times, coaches and players put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in them," said McCarthy. "But, if you are blessed beyond measure, one day you put on the colors you've worn since you were brought home from Mercy Hospital.
"I want to express my gratitude to Art Rooney, Omar Khan, Dan Rooney and the entire Steelers organization for the trust they have placed in me to represent one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. I understand – and embrace – the responsibility, the privilege and the weight that comes with this stewardship.
"This city, this franchise and this fan base mean the world to me – because Pittsburgh is my world.
"I need to thank two men I'm so fortunate to call friends: Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher. They represented this organization with such class and I'm honored – honored – to follow them. They left the proverbial cupboard full.
"To my heart, my wife Jessica, our kids, Alex, Danny, Jack, George, Gabby and Izzie... my parents Joe and Ellen and my sisters, Colleen, Ellen and Kellie... the whole crew... you can finally, openly wear your Steelers swag.
"My heart is full and my focus is singular: to bring another championship to this great city. Victory parade '1137.'"
McCarthy led his teams to 12 postseason appearances and eight division titles. The teams he has coached have won six NFC North titles (Packers) and two NFC East titles (Cowboys).
In addition, McCarthy teams have advanced to four NFC Championship Games, and he guided the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV Championship over the Steelers following the 2010 season.
"We're excited to welcome Mike McCarthy as the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers," said General Manager Omar Khan. "Mike is a proven leader with a championship resume and a clear vision for building a winning team. His experience, preparation, and alignment with Steelers' values made him the right choice to lead us forward."
Throughout his coaching career, McCarthy had 10 wins in 11 of his 18 seasons as a head coach. He recorded 12 plus wins in six different seasons, tied for fourth-most in NFL history, behind only Bill Belichick (13), Andy Reid (10) and Don Shula (8). He has the second-most career wins (125 regular season, 135 including postseason) in Packers' history.
McCarthy has been widely heralded for his offensive mindset, with his team's offenses finishing highly ranked in multiple statistical categories throughout the years including the following compiled by Steelers PR: Top 10 league-wide in passing yards (14 times), total offense (11) and scoring (12). He also guided the NFL's highest-scoring offense four times, ranked in the top five nine times and in the top 10 on 11 occasions. Dallas and Green Bay averaged 26.8 and 25.9 points/game, respectively, ranking second and third in the NFL in scoring offense during his tenures.
McCarthy is known for his work with quarterbacks, and has worked with Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Rich Gannon, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. The highly successful quarterbacks he has worked with have a combined 45 Pro Bowl selections, started 10 Super Bowls and earned 10 Associated Press Most Valuable Player awards.
McCarthy worked with Favre and Rodgers with the Packers. In his first two years with the Packers, McCarthy worked with Favre, who finished second in MVP voting in 2007.
McCarthy spent 11 seasons working with Rodgers. McCarthy and Rodgers combined for a record of 100-57-1, while Rodgers threw for 42,615 yards, 337 touchdowns and only 79 interceptions, while winning two MVP honors. Under McCarthy, Rodgers topped 4,000 passing yards six times. Rodgers became the first quarterback in NFL history to surpass the 4,000-yard mark in each of his first two seasons as a starter.
With the Cowboys he worked with quarterback Dak Prescott. In 2023, Prescott finished second in MVP voting, leading the NFL in completions (410) and touchdown passes (36).
During his time with the Cowboys, McCarthy had three 12-win seasons, led them to the playoffs three times in five seasons and had three consecutive top-five scoring offenses.
In addition to his head coaching experience, McCarthy spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL. McCarthy also spent time with the New Orleans Saints (2000-04) and San Francisco 49ers (2005) as the offensive coordinator for both franchises.
McCarthy got his start in the NFL in 1993 as a quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs under Marty Schottenheimer. He went on to coach the Chiefs quarterbacks (1995-98), before coaching the Packers quarterbacks (1999).
He also spent time coaching in the college ranks, at the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant (1989-91) and receivers coach (1992). In addition, he was a graduate assistant linebackers coach at Fort Hays State (1987-88).
McCarthy graduated from Bishop Boyle High School in Homestead, Pa. He and his wife, Jessica, established The McCarthy Family Foundation, which has made donations to benefit numerous charities, projects and institutions. Beneficiaries have included organizations throughout Wisconsin, Kansas, and Pittsburgh. Some of the organizations that have benefited from the foundation, or from McCarthy personally, include: Aquinas Academy, Autism Society of Northwest Wisconsin, Baker University, Cure Autism Now Foundation, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation (GB Police Foundation), Green Bay Boys and Girls Club, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greenfield Baseball Association, Greenfield Organization, Jackie Nitschke Center, Lake Travis High School, Little Sisters of the Poor, Merging Vets and Players, Notre Dame School of De Pere, Rampy MS Research Foundation, Rawhide, Seven Loaves Project, St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, St. Rosalia Academy, Team Gleason, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer and the American Red Cross.
COACHING HISTORY:
Year: Position, Team
2026-: Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
2020-24: Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
2006-18: Head Coach, Green Bay Packers
2005: Offensive Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
2000-04: Offensive Coordinator, New Orleans Saints
1999: Quarterbacks, Green Bay Packers
1995-98: Quarterbacks, Kansas City Chiefs
1993-94: Offensive Quality Control, Kansas City Chiefs
1992: Wide Receivers, University of Pittsburgh
1989-91: Graduate Assistant, University of Pittsburgh
1987-88: Graduate Assistant, Fort Hays State
MIKE MCCARTHY AT A GLANCE
- Named the Steelers' 17th head coach on Jan. 24, 2026.
- Has registered a 174-112-2 (.608) regular-season record (11-11 in the postseason) across his 18-year head coaching tenure with Green Bay (2006-18) and Dallas (2020-24).
- Fourth-most wins among active NFL head coaches and ranks 15th in NFL history.
- His teams have reached the postseason 12 times, captured eight division titles (six NFC North, two NFC East), made four NFC Championship Game appearances, and won Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 season.
- Renowned developer of quarterbacks, including Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott (whose collective achievements include 45 Pro Bowl selections, 10 Super Bowl starts, and 10 MVP awards).
- His offenses have routinely finished among the League's top 10 in passing yards (14 times), total offense (11) and scoring (12).
- Has guided the NFL's highest-scoring offense four times, ranked in the top five nine times and in the top 10 on 11 occasions.
- Led three consecutive 12-win seasons in Dallas (2021-23) and eight straight playoff appearances in Green Bay (2009-16), placing him among a small group of historically consistent head coaches.
- Led Green Bay to eight consecutive playoff appearances (2009-16), tied for the fifth-longest streak in NFL history.
- Ranks second in franchise history with 135 victories (regular-season and playoffs) at the helm of the Packers, trailing only Curly Lambeau (212).
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD
| Regular Season | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Record (Pct.) | Result | Record (Pct.) | Result |
| 2006 | Green Bay | 8-8-0 (.500) | 2nd NFC North | ||
| 2007 | Green Bay | 13-3-0 (.813) | 1st NFC North | 1-1 (.500) | NFC Championship Game |
| 2008 | Green Bay | 6-10-0 (.375) | 3rd NFC North | ||
| 2009 | Green Bay | 11-5-0 (.688) | 2nd NFC North | 0-1 (.000) | Wild Card Game |
| 2010 | Green Bay | 10-6-0 (.625) | 2nd NFC North | 4-0 (1.000) | Super Bowl XLV |
| 2011 | Green Bay | 15-1-0 (.938) | 1st NFC North | 0-1 (.000) | Divisional Game |
| 2012 | Green Bay | 11-5-0 (.688) | 1st NFC North | 1-1 (.500) | Divisional Game |
| 2013 | Green Bay | 8-7-1 (.531) | 1st NFC North | 0-1 (.000) | Wild Card Game |
| 2014 | Green Bay | 12-4-0 (.750) | 1st NFC North | 1-1 (.500) | NFC Championship Game |
| 2015 | Green Bay | 10-6-0 (.625) | 2nd NFC North | 1-1 (.500) | Divisional Game |
| 2016 | Green Bay | 10-6-0 (.625) | 1st NFC North | 2-1 (.667) | NFC Championship Game |
| 2017 | Green Bay | 7-9-0 (.438) | 3rd NFC North | ||
| 2018 | Green Bay | 4-7-1 (.375) | |||
| 2020 | Dallas | 6-10-0 (.375) | 3rd NFC East | ||
| 2021 | Dallas | 12-5-0 (.706) | 1st NFC East | 0-1 (.000) | Wild Card Game |
| 2022 | Dallas | 12-5-0 (.706) | 2nd NFC East | 1-1 (.500) | Divisional Game |
| 2023 | Dallas | 12-5-0 (.706) | 1st NFC East | 0-1 (.000) | Wild Card Game |
| 2024 | Dallas | 7-10-0 (.412) | 3rd NFC East | ||
| Totals | 174-112-2 (.608) | 11-11 (.500) |
