Steelers Offseason Changes Were Necessary. Were They Enough?

New Steelers Head Coach, Similar Problems?

The most scrutinized change will undoubtedly be the hiring of McCarthy. There is plenty to like about the move. For the first time since 1969, the Steelers hired a head coach with an offensive background—and a proven one at that. Throughout his career, McCarthy has developed explosive offenses and helped elevate several quarterbacks. This is, after all, the same coach whose system helped Matt Flynn earn a lucrative free-agent contract.

However, once you take off the homecoming goggles and examine McCarthy's last decade as a head coach, the move becomes less exciting. In some ways, it feels almost lateral. Since McCarthy and Tomlin met in Super Bowl XLV, neither coach has returned to the big game. McCarthy enjoyed slightly more postseason success, reaching two conference championship games compared to Tomlin's one. Still, over the last 10 years, McCarthy has managed just three playoff victories.

That's only one more postseason win than the Steelers have recorded during that same stretch. In a sense, Pittsburgh may have swapped a head coach whose offenses often held the team back for one whose defenses frequently became the issue. Both coaches share a similar track record of underwhelming playoff success since their last Super Bowl appearance.

New Coaching Staff, Sort Of?

The NFL operates much like the rest of the working world. Hiring decisions are often influenced by familiarity, relationships, and previous experience. Steelers fans frequently voiced frustration with some of Tomlin's staff hires, and McCarthy followed a similar path by bringing in several coaches he worked with in Green Bay and Dallas. Given the mixed results from those stops, those hires may not represent the dramatic change some fans hoped to see. Still, there are reasons for optimism.

Although McCarthy will call the plays, offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio previously served as the Minnesota Vikings' passing game coordinator. While head coach Kevin O'Connell handled play-calling duties, Angelichio was part of an offense that produced strong results with Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold under center. J.J. McCarthy, however, failed to impress. That likely says more about McCarthy as a prospect than it does about Angelichio's ability to help build an effective passing attack.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham remains somewhat of an unknown on paper. His defenses have rarely posted eye-popping numbers, but advanced metrics suggest he consistently got more out of less talent. Graham employs multiple defensive fronts, challenges his players, and puts them in positions to succeed. Some tendencies are easy to identify. He prefers aggressive press coverage, and with Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean expected to start at cornerback, that philosophy should remain a major part of Pittsburgh's defensive identity.

Some New Faces, Mostly the Same Places

The Steelers could return as many as 19 starters on offense and defense, depending on how you classify players who stepped into larger roles during the 2025 season. The defense features a few new faces, while much of the offense remains intact outside of upgrades at wide receiver. The additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Jamel Dean headline an offseason that also included a promising draft class and several depth signings. On paper, the roster appears solid.

It's also largely the same roster that lost 30-6 at home to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. While the defense surrendered only 16 points on its own, the offense remained difficult to watch. This was also the defensive unit that received "historical" expectations from its now-retired head coach, expectations it ultimately failed to meet.

When you consider those realities, did the Steelers make enough changes? Probably enough to take a step forward. The bigger question is what kind of step that will be.

Will it be a step toward Super Bowl contention, or simply enough progress to win a playoff game? The Steelers only found themselves making sweeping changes because Tomlin chose to retire. After all, the organization appeared prepared to bring him back for another season.

Regardless of how they got here, the changes were necessary.

Were they enough? That depends on your expectations. If the goal is to take a step forward while building a foundation for the future, the answer could very well be yes. If the expectation is immediate Super Bowl contention, that outcome feels far less certain.