The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they were turning a page. Instead, they lit up the timeline. The Steelers’ reported decision to hand the franchise keys to Mike McCarthy literally pulled a former All-Pro back into the spotlight with a brutally blunt reaction.
The hire connects decades of Steelers history, from Super Bowl scars to hometown pride. However, before the ink could even dry, one familiar name made sure the honeymoon phase never started.
Le’Veon Bell Reacts As Steelers Move Toward Mike McCarthy Hire
The first public shot came from Le’Veon Andrew Bell Sr. On Saturday, the former Steelers All-Pro reposted NFL insider Adam Schefter’s report that the Steelers plan to hire ex-Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Bell didn’t mince words. His caption predicted disaster and took a parting jab at Mike Tomlin, framing the move as subtraction disguised as progress, “4-13 incoming .. but hey, at least Mike Tomlin isn’t the coach of the Steelers anymore right?”
4-13 incoming .. but hey, at least Mike Tomlin isn’t the coach of the Steelers anymore right? https://t.co/g0vhiK9Znd
— Le’Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) January 24, 2026
Schefter’s report, posted the same afternoon, confirmed the Steelers’ intention to replace Tomlin, who resigned on January 13 after 19 seasons, with the 62-year-old McCarthy. The move would make McCarthy just the fourth Steelers head coach since 1969 and the oldest in franchise history, surpassing Chuck Noll.
McCarthy’s return, however, adds layers of irony. He beat Tomlin’s Steelers in Super Bowl 45 during the 2010 season, winning 31-25 with Green Bay. Sixteen years later, he’s set to succeed him. The résumé is solid.
McCarthy owns an all-time head coaching record of 174-112-2, with 11 double-digit win seasons since 2006 and a playoff record of 11-11. His career includes three straight 12-5 finishes in Dallas before a 7-10 stumble in 2024, which ended his Cowboys tenure.
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The hire also checks a rare historical box. McCarthy would become the first former Cowboys head coach to land another NFL head coaching job within a decade of leaving Dallas since Jimmy Johnson. He’s also the first coach ever to lead three cornerstone franchises: the Packers, Cowboys, and now the Steelers.
Team president Art Rooney II alluded days after Tomlin’s exit that the Steelers weren’t interested in a rebuild. Speaking publicly in mid-January, Rooney emphasized competing from “Day One.” That urgency follows another early playoff exit, a 30-6 home loss to Houston, and a drought that now stretches back to 2016 without a postseason win.
McCarthy’s Steelers roots helped seal it, though. Raised in the Greenfield neighborhood, he understands the city’s blue-collar DNA. There’s also familiarity upstairs. General manager Omar Khan worked closely with McCarthy during their overlapping years in New Orleans from 2000-04. The Steelers offense ranks 14th in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, their best since Ben Roethlisberger’s final years.
Whether Bell’s prediction ages well or not, the message was pretty loud. This hire isn’t universally embraced. And in the Steelers, that means the pressure starts immediately, not in September, but right now.
