The Pittsburgh Steelers have seemingly been coasting off of reputation in recent years. With the lack of playoff success and constant controversial decisions from ownership however, that reputation has started to fall off. The team has been berated with "Fire Tomlin" chants and endless 9-8 memes. The hope is that new head coach Mike McCarthy can finally get the team back to being a true threat in the postseason and win a game there so it can build its way back into Super Bowl contention. That is much easier said than done, though.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy smiles as he addresses the media during his introductory press conference that took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
While making a recent appearance on Good Morning Football, Steelers middle linebacker Patrick Queen was asked about McCarthy, and he gave lots of optimism that he can lead Pittsburgh in the right direction.
"He's fired up, he's a good dude," Queen said. "You can tell he loves football. He's very organized, detailed. It's just the way he approaches it. We'll know more in the next few weeks on how he wants everything done and what to expect, but from what I can tell from the first time, he seems really energetic, and he really thinks Pittsburgh football can get back."
Queen has seen firsthand how rough Steelers football has been lately due to the miscommunications and failure to get off the ground in the playoffs. He is sticking around for another year to see this through and figure out if McCarthy can truly bring Pittsburgh football back or not. Hopefully, he is right and the team can stop being the joke of the postseason each year that they make it in.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers' DeShon Elliott and Patrick Queen making a tackle during playoff game in Baltimore.
At the very least, the Steelers have spent the 2026 offseason loading up on players that fit the scheme to help get back to Pittsburgh football on both sides of the ball. For the most part, the talent is all there. The upcoming draft should be a big boost to the depth of the team as well. With so much youth coming in, this team should be set up to help a quarterback and go on a run for now and in the future.
You can have the best team on paper, but that means nothing if the coaching isn't there. The offseason has done well, but once the draft concludes, it will be all up to McCarthy to make the team reach its potential. He has to prove that he has learned from the mistakes of the past, both from his own and from the Steelers'. If that happens, the future will be extremely bright for the Black and Gold.
Steelers Are Under Immense Pressure To Improve Now
Steelers fans have been very upset recently. They want to be contenders again and hated the McCarthy hire initially. Expectations of winning now have been placed on Pittsburgh from both the fans and the team itself. It desperately needs to reach its own goals immediately. As moves have been made this offseason, fan sentiment has become more open about McCarthy, and fans are as excited about the draft now than ever before.
© Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images
Steelers Team President and Owner Art Rooney II with Head Coach Mike McCarthy at his introductory press conference in 2026.
If the Steelers either get blown out in the Wild Card Round again or miss the playoffs entirely, the fans will make sure their anger is heard yet again. Even if they just lose a few games early in the season, they could end up getting booed off their own field. Anything less than "Pittsburgh football" will be a massive disappointment. This is a huge risk of a hire for the sake of the team's reputation.
If the Steelers do improve and win a game in the postseason, ownership will be proven right on this hire. The saying goes "Winning cures everything," and that is definitely the case here.
What do you think about McCarthy believing that he can bring Pittsburgh football back? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation