Steelers Fans Will Be Celebrating Report Of This Massive Change In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers and new head coach Mike McCarthy are in the process of hiring an all-new coaching staff. McCarthy has made it a point of emphasis to expand the staff from the size that now-former head coach Mike Tomlin had the last 19 seasons. The Steelers have had one of the smallest and cheapest coaching staffs over the past few years, and McCarthy is looking to change that by expanding it to include a Chief of Staff and additional positional coaches. This move will make way for more analytics to be incorporated into the Steelers' game planning and coaching. 

The Steelers have been known to underutilize current technology and take pride in their old-school football approach. However, McCarthy, who is 62, recognizes that the game is ever-changing and by including new technology and analytics, game planning and in-game adjustments can be more effective and efficient. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo spoke on how things could be changing in the analytics department in Pittsburgh. 

"The analytics guys could be a part of the coaching staff. Previously, these guys were in the front office," explained Fittipaldo. "I assume these will be part of the coaching staff now under Mike [McCarthy]. They are coaching positions the Steelers never had before." 

By expanding the coaching staff, McCarthy is proving that he wants to move towards the future. The Steelers have needed to get up to date in the analytics side of things and utilize them in decision-making and play-calling. Analytics can be used when making important decisions in the game, like fourth-down decisions and player evaluation. This takes a lot of pressure off McCarthy as he can use analytics in his judgment calls. It can help with what personnel should be on the field in certain situations using data-driven strategy as well.

This could be very valuable for the Steelers as they look to be on par with other organizations' coaching staffs. The fact that these coaches could be on the field, helps drive home the point that the Steelers are looking to rely on analytics more, not just for game planning, but in-game strategy. This can help players learn from their mistakes and give coaches a better opportunity to help players improve in 2026 and beyond.

How Do Analytics Help The Steelers And What Does This Mean For The Coaching Staff? 

Analytics have been a central part of the game for almost two decades now. The Steelers have used them in their front office decision-making, but have not had an on-field analytical staff in previous seasons. McCarthy's coaching hires do carry weight as they have been known to include at least some analytics in their coaching strategy. Tomlin often made decisions on his own accord, and this didn't always help the team. Tomlin was known for being conservative at times, like not going for it on fourth down to end games. Tomlin relied on his defense consistently, and sometimes that cost the organization games. Through an analytical approach, McCarthy could use the data to make an educated decision on what to do in particular game situations. Ultimately, it's up to him to make the call, but he will be able to rely on the tools around him to make a well-informed decision. This can take the pressure off the defense in a lot of scenarios and help win games. 

Overall, the coaching staff expansion and finally becoming a team in the present will only help the franchise. By adding analytically focused coaches, the Steelers will have more of a strategy when encountering game-changing scenarios and player personnel. McCarthy has been known to stay current in his game planning and strategy, and he brings something the Steelers have never had.

Do you think the use of analytics helps the Steelers? Let us know below!

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