Steelers' Mike McCarthy Receives Sizzling Advice From Ben Roethlisberger

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2026 season with a much different look at the head coaching spot. Mike Tomlin decided it was time to hang up his clipboard, walking away from coaching the Steelers at the age of 53. Now Mike McCarthy steps in at the age of 62, trying to turn a prolonged playoff drought into postseason success. Under Tomlin, Pittsburgh did not manage to win a playoff game since the 2016 season. That is a long time for the Steel City and its fans to go without meaningful success in the playoffs, and expectations will immediately shift toward McCarthy to change that narrative.

McCarthy is looking to end that drought, but it will not be easy in a competitive AFC landscape. The Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan did provide help, pulling off a trade at wide receiver with the Indianapolis Colts to acquire Michael Pittman Jr. The veteran arrives in Pittsburgh as a lunch-pail type of receiver who brings toughness and reliability to the offense. He should complement DK Metcalf nicely, especially after the loss of Calvin Austin III in free agency. The move signals that Pittsburgh is serious about giving its new head coach the tools needed to compete right away, particularly on the offensive side of the ball where consistency has been an issue.

Former Steelers great quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently weighed in on the situation during his podcast, Footbahlin, offering advice to both Khan and McCarthy about the wide receiver position. Roethlisberger suggested that the team consider adding another receiver familiar with McCarthy’s system, someone who could step in seamlessly and contribute immediately. His perspective highlights the importance of continuity and experience within an offense that is undergoing change. As the Steelers prepare for a new era, input from a franchise legend only adds another layer of intrigue to how Pittsburgh will shape its roster heading into the 2026 season.

"Well, you know what would be interesting too," Roethlisberger said while speaking on his podcast Footbahlin on Tuesday night. "Is there a wide receiver out there that was in McCarthy’s system somewhere that you can go bring in? He knows the system, he’s plug-and-play, whether he’s a free agent or just on a team. Is there someone else out here that you can put in the system… is there a Green Bay Packer or a receiver that Aaron [Rodgers] knows, that McCarthy knows, that knows his system?"

Of course, the Steelers still have to figure out what’s going to happen at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers came to Pittsburgh for the 2025 season and led the team to a 10-7 record and an AFC North victory. However, he will be 43 years old during the 2026 season. Still, there is growing hype that Rodgers may come back for one more ride, this time reunited with his former head coach, McCarthy, who he played under for more than a decade with the Green Bay Packers and even defeated Pittsburgh in a Super Bowl.

Roethlisberger’s idea makes a lot of sense. Find a wide receiver who is already comfortable in McCarthy’s system. McCarthy has been around the league and served as an NFL head coach for 18 seasons, so he definitely has connections. 

But finding the right player may not be easy, especially when discussing the WR3 role. Still, there could be options, and if there are, Roethlisberger wants Khan and McCarthy to pick up the phones and find someone familiar to help fill out the wide receiver room.

Steelers Still Have Roman Wilson To Develop

Adding a veteran presence would also be valuable for the development of younger receivers like Roman Wilson, giving him someone to learn from and compete against. That competition could be key for his growth and for strengthening the depth of the Steelers’ receiving corps. 

Between potentially returning Rodgers and bolstering the wide receiver room with a player comfortable in McCarthy’s system, Pittsburgh is hoping to put the pieces in place to finally end their long playoff drought and return to contention.