More information revealed on why Steelers hired Mike McCarthy so quickly

Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Rams pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase were among candidates mentioned as possibilities for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head-coaching vacancy. 

While the Steelers could've waited until after the Rams suffered a 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night to meet with Shula and/or Scheelhaase this week, Pittsburgh instead announced over the weekend that the club had hired former Green Bay Packers and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show" shared why the club wanted to get the McCarthy deal done quickly.

Steelers didn't want to waste time before choosing Mike McCarthy

"I truly believe, what [Steelers team president Art Rooney II] did say, is after they sat down and said, 'You know what, why even waste our time' so to speak, 'with a Chris Shula or a Nate Scheelhaase, when we got the guy that we want right here?' They came to the conclusion that's exactly what they were looking for," Kaboly said about Pittsburgh's hiring of McCarthy, per Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot. "So, why drag it on?"

Neither Shula nor Scheelhaase has been a head coach at a high level. Meanwhile, McCarthy is a one-time Super Bowl champion head coach credited with helping Aaron Rodgers become a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Most recently, McCarthy guided the Cowboys to the playoffs three times from 2020 through the 2024 season. 

It's unclear if McCarthy's well-known relationship with Rodgers will result in the 42-year-old opening another campaign as Pittsburgh's QB1. The Steelers also have 2025 sixth-round draft choice Will Howard in their quarterback room, but many believe Pittsburgh will look to acquire a different prospect later this year.  

Steelers didn't want to make Mike McCarthy's transition more difficult by waiting

"You would probably like to get a guy in place as soon as possible, so he can then move forward with the assistant coaches," Kaboly added about Pittsburgh handing McCarthy the figurative keys to the kingdom. "So if you're just gonna drag it out and go back to Mike McCarthy, potentially lose a defensive coordinator [to a different team], then that's probably why they announced [the McCarthy move] on Saturday."

Time will tell if Rooney and Co. will ultimately regret not giving Shula or Scheelhaase a legitimate chance to win the gig before the Steelers hired McCarthy. What's done is done, and McCarthy will now be tasked with helping the Steelers end a seven-game playoff losing streak that began in January 2017.