Mike McCarthy emerges as serious Steelers head coach candidate amid Aaron Rodgers' uncertain future

The Steelers kicked off their head coach search with a move that shook up the rumor mill. Mike McCarthy entered the mix this week, and fans quickly tied his name to one storyline. Aaron Rodgers. The connection feels natural because of their long history in Green Bay.

Still, league insiders say Pittsburgh’s interest goes beyond any quarterback reunion.Pittsburgh looks at a roster built to win now. Veterans lead both sides of the ball. The front office wants a coach who can step in and compete right away. That goal drives this search more than any single player.

Steelers’ interest in Mike McCarthy centers on Team Direction

The key update came recently. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, on The Rich Eisen Show, addressed Rodgers' talk directly.“I do believe that if Aaron Rodgers were coming back to play for one coach in 2026, it would be Mike McCarthy,” Pelissero said. “But I think people may have misconstrued when I mentioned that on the show the other day as, ‘Well, this is the Steelers trying to lure back Aaron Rodgers.’ That’s not it at all.”Pelissero added more context during the same appearance. “If they hire Mike McCarthy, and that’s not a given, if they hire Mike McCarthy, they are doing it for the totality of what direction they think they can go right now,” Pelissero said.

“They’ve got a very, very veteran roster.”The Steelers interviewed McCarthy as they searched for a replacement for Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after the 2025 season. McCarthy brings 18 seasons of head coaching experience with the Packers and Big D. He holds a 174-112-2 career record and won Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay.

A-Rod's future remains uncertain. ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported in January 2026 that Rodgers has not committed to retirement or a return to the Steelers.

That uncertainty keeps the speculation alive, but Pittsburgh’s front office looks at the full picture.Tomlin left after 19 seasons in charge, ending one of the longest and most stable coaching tenures in NFL history. His exit has left a huge gap in Pittsburgh, and the crew are now carefully evaluating experienced names as they look to reset their direction.The Steelers want leadership, structure, and experience on the sideline. McCarthy’s résumé fits that need. Any Rodgers connection sits as a side note, not the driving force behind this search