Steelers Interviewing Mike McCarthy May Have Much Different And Unique Meaning To Fans

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in some unchartered waters, as they find themselves looking for their first head coach in nearly two decades. After the news that former head coach Mike Tomlin was stepping away after 19 seasons with the franchise, the Steelers now look to find the replacement for him. This comes off a 30-6 playoff loss at home to the Houston Texans which was the final nail in the coffin for the relationship between Tomlin and the organization. Now, the rumor mill is swirling and there are several big name candidates in the running to replace Tomlin as head coach in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have been linked to many available candidates, including former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach, Mike McCarthy. However, McCarthy interviewing for the Steelers head-coaching vacancy could provide a different avenue to him joining the organization. While McCarthy has ties to Pittsburgh, as his father Joe McCarthy lived and worked in the Pittsburgh area, the Steelers could bring on McCarthy to their next staff, even if it is not as their head coach. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said as much on Monday during his appearance on the North Shore Drive Podcast with fellow Post-Gazette writer Chris Carter. 

"I think the interesting part about this is, when you interview former head coaches, sometimes that's an avenue for you to hire them as coordinators," Fittipaldo said. "So, Brian Flores is interviewing for other coordinator jobs right now. Let's say they hire a young offensive assistant. Maybe Flores is the DC under that guy. Maybe they hire a young defensive coordinator, maybe Mike McCarthy is the OC in that guy."

While McCarthy and the Steelers have been linked to interviews for the head-coaching vacancy, it may be a better fit for McCarthy to come in, but in a different role. While the Steelers do need to innovate their offense, they need a younger replacement at head coach, such as Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula. 

Shula, who is the grandson of legendary Hall of Fame NFL coach Don Shula, is just 39-years-old. McCarthy, on the other hand, is 62-years-old. 

Steelers Will Have Multiple Chances To Pivot

While the Steelers have announced they will interview guys like Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, as well as McCarthy, this definitely opens up an avenue for them to place someone like McCarthy elsewhere. McCarthy may be better served as an assistant head coach, or offensive coordinator for the Steelers. The Steelers mentioned last week they want to look for the best possible option to replace Tomlin and will not attempt to put parameters on the decision. 

While the Steelers would benefit from looking to an offensive-minded head coach as a replacement, McCarthy could be a great option in a different role on the staff should they hire someone that has more of a defensive background. McCarthy has won a Super Bowl as well as several NFL division titles, but at his age, the Steelers can pivot in their conversations with him to try to bring him on to the new staff even if it is not as head coach. McCarthy's experience as an NFL head coach would be a great complement to someone such as the younger Shula. 

While there are several names on the list for potential replacements for the Steelers' head-coaching vacancy, McCarthy would be a great asset to a new staff. The Steelers should look to go younger than someone like McCarthy, but the football background he has can help improve an offense that needs some major innovation. A guy like McCarthy as offensive coordinator would most likely yield better offensive playoff production than the measly six points the Steelers scored in their first-round exit against the Texans.

Would you like the Steelers to bring in a guy like McCarthy as offensive coordinator or in another role if they shift their focus elsewhere for a head coach? Let us know in the comments below!

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