Super Bowl-Winning Head Coach Detailed What The Steelers Are Getting In Mike McCarthy

Pittsburgh Steelers fans didn’t seem very thrilled when it was revealed that Mike McCarthy would become just the fourth head coach for the team since 1969. The news followed a moment that shocked the football world, as long-time head coach Mike Tomlin stepped away from Pittsburgh at just 53 years old. For a fan base built on continuity and stability, the sudden change created uncertainty about where the franchise was headed next.

Now the Steelers move forward with a 62-year-old head coach who has been part of the NFL coaching ranks since 1993. McCarthy made his name in Green Bay, where he helped deliver a Super Bowl championship to the Packers in a win that came against Pittsburgh. He later spent five seasons as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, building a résumé centered on experience, structure, and sustained success, even if recent seasons sparked debate about his place in the modern game.

Few people love the game of football more than Jon Gruden, and while speaking on the Games With Names podcast hosted by former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, he could not help but praise McCarthy’s approach, particularly his practices in Green Bay.

"Mike McCarthy, when he was in Green Bay, he did a he** of a job, man," Gruden said. "The way he utilized the indoor facility, instead of having, sitting down on a meeting, sometimes they'd get up, take 10 minutes in the indoor facility to demonstrate a play or a concept."

Gruden explained how McCarthy used short on-field demonstrations, indoor and outdoor sessions, and weather conditions to reinforce concepts and sharpen focus. 

He described it as an unbelievably effective way to teach the game and prepare players, offering Steelers fans a new perspective on what McCarthy brings to Pittsburgh. Gruden went on to explain why this practice approach from McCarthy actually matters.

"They took advantage of outdoor-indoor with the cold weather," Gruden said. "They might go outside for 15 minutes, and work on anti-turnover circuit, and then come in where it's warmer, where they could concentrate. McCarthy did a great job."

Many football fans have a strong opinion on Gruden and where he stands as a head coach. He is 62 years old now, and at one point there were a select few Steelers fans who were hopeful he might get hired in Pittsburgh, though few ever truly thought that was a real possibility. It really shows how the football world views him and his football mind.

Gruden is clearly a massive fan of the game. Having coached over 229 games in his 15-year NFL head coaching career, with a 117-112 all-time record, and a Super Bowl title under his belt, he knows what he is talking about when it comes to practices and preparation. He has seen it all, from rookie mistakes to playoff pressure, and understands how the little details can make or break a team.

Steelers' Mike McCarthy Can Bring The Same Concept To Pittsburgh

That is why he could not help but praise McCarthy’s approach in Green Bay. The way McCarthy structured practices, using short on-field demonstrations and rotating between indoor and outdoor sessions while factoring in weather and environment, was not flashy, but it worked. 

To Gruden, this is not just coaching. It is smart leadership. Those little things are exactly what separate good teams from great ones, and he knows they matter because he has lived it. The weather in Pittsburgh is similar, so he can bring that approach with him to his new team.

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