McCarthy unveils 'Steelers 6' as new set of fundamentals for Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mike McCarthy unveils 'Steelers 6' as new set of fundamentals for Pittsburgh

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 12:07 PM ET

Six months into being on the job and with one practice in the books, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was ready to unveil the six fundamentals he's instilling in his new team.

Labeled "the Steelers 6" and mostly common practices for any football team expecting to contend, McCarthy is preaching the importance of ball security, blocking, big plays, finish and pursuit, mannerisms (disguises) and tackling and breaking tackles.

Mike McCarthy has instilled "the Steelers 6" as a new set of fundamentals

And while these six attributes he's demanding his team possesses aren't earth-shattering, they still represent a new defined doctrine for a mostly veteran group as they prepare for the 2026 season and the start of a new era for the Steelers as a franchise.

"Everything is calculated. Everything's regulated. There is science behind it," said McCarthy as he further explained his mindset and where he is as a coach at this point in his career.

McCarthy also hammered home how close NFL teams are from first to worst, saying that on average about half of the 17 games on a schedule come down to one possession.

Mike McCarthy has instilled a set of fundamentals he's labeled "the Steelers 6":

Ball security
Blocking
Big Plays
Finish / Pursuit
Mannerisms (disguises)
Tackling and breaking tackles
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) July 30, 2026

And despite the fact he's taking over a franchise in the midst of a long playoff drought — Pittsburgh hasn't won a postseason game since January 2017 — McCarthy still knows wearing a Steelers uniform comes with a target.

Mike McCarthy believes the Steelers always have a target on their backs

"And we're the Pittsburgh Steelers. We are gonna get everyone's best shot. So for us it might be 10 or 11," McCarthy said, realizing no one will be taking it easy on his team no matter who's on the roster.

McCarthy is dealing with some additional pressure beyond what comes with coaching the Steelers, too. The 62-year-old McCarthy has a 174-112-2 career record, equaling a .608 win percentage. This includes his time with the Green Bay Packers, whom he led to a Super Bowl XLV win, ironically with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, and the Dallas Cowboys before being hired by the Steelers. However, McCarthy only owns an 11-11 mark in the playoffs and hasn't won a playoff game since the 2022 season.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads: