The Pittsburgh Steelers are in unfamiliar waters this offseason as they embark on a head coaching search, something not seen in the Steel City since Mike Tomlin was hired back in 2007.
The Steelers are casting a wide net in their coaching search by interviewing many of the top candidates available.
However, there is one polarizing name the Steelers seem to be seriously interested in.
Dan Orlovsky Rips Potential McCarthy Hiring
That happens to be Pittsburgh native and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach, Mike McCarthy. Yet not everyone thinks McCarthy would be a good hire for the Steelers, especially if he intends to keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said the Steelers hiring McCarthy and bringing back Rodgers at quarterback “would be the worst decision Pittsburgh could make.”
Orlovsky continued, “To hire Mike McCarthy and bring Aaron back is going to place you quite literally in the same position you are in right now, in January of 2027.”
“Hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing Aaron [Rodgers] back would be the worst decision Pittsburgh could make.”
—@danorlovsky7 on what’s next for the Steelers 😳 pic.twitter.com/Tdqx9z7w4B
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 22, 2026
The Steelers do not need another retread head coach and a 40-year-old-plus quarterback. Given Tomlin’s departure, the franchise should be looking to clean house, including at quarterback.
According to PFSN, Rodgers had a QB Impact Score of 71.4 in 2025, which ranked 29th in the NFL. No matter if Rodgers wants to retire or play another season, he should not be a part of the Steelers’ plans.
The Steelers’ Long-Term Outlook
Outside of McCarthy, the Steelers appear to be interested in Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Both are much younger than McCarthy and seem like better fits for what the Steelers are looking for.
An issue that has plagued the team for many seasons is middling quarterback play. They need to exhaust all avenues to find the right signal-caller and build around him.
Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is on the roster, but the fact he’s yet to play a regular-season down in the NFL makes it difficult to project him as the future at the position for the Pittsburgh.
Overall, the Steelers have a lot of work to do with their team this offseason. Not only do they need to hire a new head coach, but they need to add more talented players on both sides of the ball.
