Steelers Insider Reveals Secret Behind Mike McCarthy's Early Success

The Pittsburgh Steelers have given their fan base plenty of reasons to believe Mike McCarthy was the right man to replace Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh is 6-2 entering its bye week, and the team has won four consecutive games. While McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have received plenty of attention for the turnaround, there is another important reason the Steelers have been successful. According to insider Mark Kaboly, some of the most influential people in Pittsburgh's resurgence aren't necessarily getting the recognition they deserve.

When the Steelers hired McCarthy, there were understandable questions about whether he could bring something different to an organization that had grown accustomed to Tomlin's leadership. McCarthy arrived with a Super Bowl championship on his resume and plenty of experience navigating the NFL. However, winning in Pittsburgh would require more than simply bringing back a successful head coach. He needed to surround himself with people capable of maximizing the roster.

That is where Kaboly believes Pittsburgh has made significant progress. During a discussion on Kaboly and Mack, the Steelers insider explained why the team's coaching staff deserves considerable credit for its impressive start. Rather than pointing exclusively to Rodgers, McCarthy or the players, Kaboly emphasized the work happening behind the scenes. He believes Pittsburgh's assistants have played an enormous role in changing the team's fortunes.

"A lot has to do with the coaching staff, scheming and game planning, really both sides of the ball," Kaboly said.

That assessment should catch the attention of Steelers fans because coaching has been one of the organization's biggest talking points in recent years. Pittsburgh has consistently featured talented players, but having talent doesn't automatically mean a team will get the most out of its personnel. The difference often comes down to how those players are deployed and whether coaches understand what their roster does best.

Kaboly continued by explaining why McCarthy's staff immediately felt different to him. He pointed toward the experience that Pittsburgh's coaches brought into the organization and suggested their previous success is becoming increasingly evident.

"When he put together this staff, you could feel it was a little different," Kaboly said. "You could tell these guys have had experience of being successful somewhere else. You can really notice it right now. I think the assistants are a huge part of this success right now. Huge."

That final word is especially telling. Kaboly wasn't simply offering a passing compliment to Pittsburgh's assistant coaches. He was emphasizing that their contributions have been central to the Steelers' success through eight games. It is a significant endorsement of the staff McCarthy assembled.

Steelers Are Benefiting From Mike McCarthy's Coaching Staff

There is something particularly interesting about Kaboly's comments when considering how much attention head coaches receive. McCarthy is ultimately responsible for Pittsburgh's results, and he deserves credit for the team's encouraging start. However, one of the most important responsibilities of a head coach is identifying assistants who can challenge ideas, develop players and help create winning game plans.

The Steelers appear to be benefiting from that approach. Their offensive identity has become clearer, and the defense continues to give opponents difficult problems to solve. There is still considerable room for improvement, especially when it comes to creating consistent production from the wide receiver position.

Pittsburgh's next challenge will be maintaining that progress as opponents adjust. The Steelers won't catch teams off guard forever, and their coaching staff will need to continue finding answers throughout the second half of the season. That is when preparation and adaptability become even more important.

For now, Kaboly's assessment offers a compelling explanation for Pittsburgh's success. McCarthy might be the face of the operation, but the assistants working alongside him deserve recognition for helping turn a talented roster into a winning team.

Do you believe Mike McCarthy's assistant coaches are the biggest reason the Pittsburgh Steelers have improved in 2026?