Steelers Are About to Play Mike McCarthy Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers handed over control of the franchise to new head coach Mike McCarthy, ushering in a new era for the organization. After decades of defensive-minded coaches leading the way, owner and team president Art Rooney II pivoted to an offensive and quarterback-focused coach for this new phase.

Part of the Steelers' organizational turnover is changing their offensive structure. Previously, offensive coordinators have called plays in Pittsburgh.

That won't be the case with McCarthy running the team, however. At the new coach's introductory press conference, he was asked if he would call plays, and McCarthy left little to interpretation.

"Definitely, I will call the plays on offense," he said.

McCarthy's Offensive Philosophy

McCarthy's NFL experience extends back into the 1990s, when he joined the Kansas City Chiefs as an offensive assistant. Over that extensive experience, he's developed a reputation for being a quarterback-friendly coach and a builder of offenses.

Asked to describe his offensive style and philosophy, he provided the following explanation.

"I'm a believer in the West Coast offense," he said. "The offense needs to be built to make the quarterback successful."

He emphasized that the beginning point for making the West Coast offense and a QB look good is simple. For McCarthy, it begins with the run. If you establish a strong ground game, the rest of the system opens up.