Steelers' Mike McCarthy Is Already Breaking Traditions With New College Pro Day Approach

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through an offseason with a ton of change in 2026. It is more than the organization has experienced in almost 20 years. Former head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down is a major move, and only a few coaches being retained from the 2025 staff also shows how much is going to be different. When Tomlin was originally hired, he kept more of the staff that was coaching under Bill Cowher, but Mike McCarthy did not choose to do that. McCarthy kept the guys he has coached with or coached before, and that was about it. The rest of the coaches are guys that he has brought in.

McCarthy has switched things up from the way that Tomlin used to do things, and the way he built out his coaching staff is a clear display of that. McCarthy also added positions to the coaching staff, which is something the rest of the league has been doing for years. There are other small differences between the two coaches that have been noticeable from a far, but beat writer Mark Kaboly has also noticed a difference with the pre-draft process. He went on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday and shared that this regime seems to approach Pro Days differently when he was asked why there was such little representation at Penn State.

"I think it would be a big deal if it was last year," Kaboly said. "The problem is, I don't think, from what it's looked like so far to me, the Steelers don't really value going to Pro Days as much as they did last year. I'm not saying they don't value them at all, but last year, they would send out the whole crew. You're sending the quarterback coach, offensive coordinator, it's only a 2-hour drive. With the new staff in place, maybe they do not approach it that way."

This question was mainly asked out of curiosity because of the top quarterback prospect for the Nittany Lions, Drew Allar. Some fans want the organization to take a chance on him, while others are definitely against it. The main figures of the coaching staff not going to his Pro Day could be a big deal, or it could mean nothing if they bring him in for a visit. 

Kaboly went on to explain that the Steelers were not skipping the Nittany Lions' Pro Day; the organization probably had an area scout in attendance. However, McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan were not there, as that duo was at Georgia. Kaboly thinks Pro Days are of less significance now that Tomlin has left, as he was always focused about learning about his prospects and seeing the type of environment that built them. McCarthy might not be the same way.

Pro Days will still be a factor for the Steelers when going through the 2026 NFL Draft process, but they might not hold as much weight as private workouts or formal visits. It will be interesting to see how Khan and McCarthy approach this first draft process together.

Steelers' Choices On Wednesday May Have Given Away Quarterback Preference

There is no guarantee that the Steelers will draft a quarterback in April, and the franchise probably is not going to use a high pick on the position either. However, Allar and Carson Beck are a couple of names to watch. Beck spent his final season at Miami, and it is known that the Steelers are somewhat interested in the quarterback. 

It is significant to note that he originally attended Georgia, and he played under the current head coach, Kirby Smart, for five seasons. That would be a good place to go to learn more about Beck.

What do you think about the Steelers' approach to Pro Days? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

#SteelerNation