This makes my head (and heart) hurt

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6Trophies
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This makes my head (and heart) hurt

Post by 6Trophies » Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:25 pm

NFL news roundup: Steelers scheduled to interview Mike McCarthy for HC job this week.

Please tell me Mike McCarthy is a courtesy interview. He is in his 60's. In his last 5 years of Cowboys Head Coach, I believe he was twice the NFC #1 seed and lost in the first playoff games.

https://x.com/i/status/2012915842812420392



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StillerInCT
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Post by StillerInCT » Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:55 pm

He's from Pittsburgh. This isn't a courtesy interview. He probably tops the list.
"Work harder not smarter" - Mike Tomlin

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Steelafan77
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Post by Steelafan77 » Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:33 pm

McCarthy as a HC candidate is just due diligence.

Could be he is interviewing as a potential OC candidate as well?

An opportunity for Mike to return to coaching.

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Post by SteelerDayTrader » Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:40 pm

I agree with Drama

McCarthy is the ringer to clear the runway for Flores or someone of similar ilk

“You fuckheads want me to hire Fuckface McCarthy ?? I’ll do it. Yes I will. You’re ok with Flores now right ??!! “
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.Kodiak
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Post by .Kodiak » Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:49 pm

Steelafan77 wrote:
Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:33 pm
McCarthy as a HC candidate is just due diligence.

Could be he is interviewing as a potential OC candidate as well?

An opportunity for Mike to return to coaching.
It would be unusual to hire an OC before hiring a HC, and without that HC input.

Unless they plan to go young & green again and want a solid OC and DC to run things while the kid cuts his teeth. In other words, trying to recreate 2007 (but without #7, which is a big problem).

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Steelafan77
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Post by Steelafan77 » Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:56 pm

I realize that would be a very unusual process.

Just spit balling the ‘ducks in a row’ due diligence.

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Steelafan77
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Post by Steelafan77 » Mon Jan 19, 2026 4:02 pm

SteelerDayTrader wrote:
Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:40 pm
I agree with Drama

McCarthy is the ringer to clear the runway for Flores or someone of similar ilk

“You fuckheads want me to hire Fuckface McCarthy ?? I’ll do it. Yes I will. You’re ok with Flores now right ??!! “
I personally cringe at the mire thought of Flores as the HC for the Steelers so let’s not put the cart before our horses.

We are just as in the unknown now as we were after the fraud ‘retired’ most just spit balling scenarios. No one knows.

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Post by CKSteeler » Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:10 pm

.Kodiak wrote:
Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:49 pm
Steelafan77 wrote:
Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:33 pm
McCarthy as a HC candidate is just due diligence.

Could be he is interviewing as a potential OC candidate as well?

An opportunity for Mike to return to coaching.
It would be unusual to hire an OC before hiring a HC, and without that HC input.

Unless they plan to go young & green again and want a solid OC and DC to run things while the kid cuts his teeth. In other words, trying to recreate 2007 (but without #7, which is a big problem).
I don't think that would fly today. These young coaches are the new trend in hires rather than the risk they were viewed as when Tomlin was hired. The candidates the Steelers are looking at are hot names for everyone and will probably still be for a few cycles so why would those guys accept that? If you are a 31 year old passing game coordinator for the Rams with some melanin, you are going to get a shot probably barring complete disaster. I wouldn't take being saddled with McCarthy if it were me.

Also, Steelers were in a WAY different place in 2007 when they hired Tomlin. They could justify keeping the structure of the organization intact. Lebeau was already a legend as a defensive coordinator.

I think this is probably more of due diligence and a courtesy to McCarthy as a Pittsburgh guy. But who really knows Art II is pretty dumb.

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Post by the-other-burg » Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:19 pm

McCarthy as OC in interesting...

Looking at Vets for Coordinator jobs is almost a dead giveaway the Steelers are looking at inexperienced young Head Coaching candidates. They would never interview a coordinator first if they were looking at Vets for HC.

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Post by Ice » Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:38 pm

I'm going to hope it's due diligence, biding their time until Rams v Squawks concludes on Sunday night, and the Super Bowl bye week interview window opens up.
Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...

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Post by SteelerDayTrader » Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:16 pm

the-other-burg wrote:
Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:19 pm
McCarthy as OC in interesting...

Looking at Vets for Coordinator jobs is almost a dead giveaway the Steelers are looking at inexperienced young Head Coaching candidates. They would never interview a coordinator first if they were looking at Vets for HC.
Hmmmmm ?
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Post by 6Trophies » Mon Jan 19, 2026 10:37 pm

What about Mc Cathy as head of football operations?

Does the Steelers faithful like that idea?

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Post by LakecrestSteeler » Mon Jan 19, 2026 11:22 pm

He like Tomlin has not done shit besides get fat since his Super Bowl. Hard pass.

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Post by the-other-burg » Tue Jan 20, 2026 8:31 pm

What if McCarthy is simply to lure AR back one more season.

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Post by Orangesteel » Tue Jan 20, 2026 8:36 pm

McCarthy as OC isn’t horrible. He ran a phenomenal offense in Dallas that was regularly near the top (I believe).

But it’s a different picture and cast here in Pittsburgh. As long as Shula is HC I am fine with a seasoned OC that knows that scoring = winning in the modern NFL.
“Thoughts are a waste of time for me.” - Michael Pettaway Tomlin

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