New Steelers HC Mike McCarthy reveals critical plan for offense

It is officially a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After 19 seasons under former head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers will enter the 2026 campaign with former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm. 

Instead of going in a rebuilding direction after Tomlin, the McCarthy hire signals a different direction for the Steelers, one where they feel like they have what it takes to compete for a Super Bowl in the immediate future.

McCarthy has Pittsburgh in his DNA. A die-hard Steelers fan growing up in the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, this is a dream job for McCarthy to coach his childhood and hometown team. It would be for anyone. 

McCarthy knows better than most the Steelers' history and the high expectations that come with representing the team. If the Steelers are successful under McCarthy, this will be a coach that the city will gravitate toward almost immediately. It's a great story waiting to happen, but it will depend on what happens on the field.

Mike McCarthy broke down how Steelers offense will operate

During his introductory news conference on Jan. 27, McCarthy gave a detailed look at how the Steelers will operate on offense.

"You want your receivers to play all three positions. When you have the flexibility of that, that goes back to the first statement about making the quarterback successful," McCarthy explained. "If you have 900 plays just to beat every defense, that's very difficult for the quarterback. If you truly want to play to the rhythm timing of your quarterback, your perimeter guys are going to have to play multiple positions."

The three receiver positions McCarthy refers to are the X receiver, slot receiver and Z receiver. McCarthy has orchestrated some of the best offenses in the NFL during his time with the Packers and Cowboys, and versatility will be at the forefront of this. It was revealing that McCarthy made it apparent that instead of a massive playbook, he believes in mastering the plays run, and doing so with a personnel group that can line up across the field. Any quarterback will be happy to hear this, as timing is crucial to any offense.

When Tomlin left the Steelers, it was widely assumed that Aaron Rodgers would not return in 2026. However, the McCarthy hire changes everything, as he was Rodgers' longtime coach with the Packers, and they previously won a Super Bowl. The versatility of this McCarthy offense with Rodgers at the helm could be special in 2026.

Rodgers' Hall of Fame ticket to Canton is already stamped. If the 42-year-old veteran decides to return to the Steelers, he'll have to be completely on board not only with the offense, but also with the short-term direction the Steelers are going in. Considering McCarthy mentioned that he already spoke to Rodgers, it's certainly possible that a reunion could happen with Rodgers and McCarthy next season.

DK Metcalf should see better looks with Mike McCarthy's offense

McCarthy's offensive plan also means that Steelers star receiver DK Metcalf will be used more often around the field. A common criticism of the Steelers offense this past season was that it was too easy for defenses to key in on Metcalf, often with the defense able to shift its unit toward Metcalf with consistency. 

With Metcalf lining up all over the field, this will not only open up the offense for him, but for others as well. It's also likely that the Steelers will revamp their receiving corps as well. ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft has the Steelers drafting 6-foot-4 Washington Huskies receiver Denzel Boston in the first round. A pair of 6-foot-4 receivers around Rodgers in this offense could be special.

Despite their regular-season success, the Steelers are 0-7 in their last seven playoff games. Under McCarthy, that must change, or the McCarthy era will be short-lived in Pittsburgh. The McCarthy offense, at least in theory, has the chance to do just that.