The Dallas Cowboys won only one playoff game during Mike McCarthy's tenure as head coach from 2020 to 2024, so it is safe to say he did not make many fans in the Lone Star State. Now, the former Green Bay Packers and Cowboys HC is taking over for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it sounds like he could be looking to bring a familiar face with him to The Steel City.
According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers told the New Orleans "Saints that they plan to interview assistant Scott Tolzien for their offensive coordinator position, per sources." Tolzien coached Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough this season, and before that, he was a backup QB for McCarthy in Green Bay from 2013 to 2015 and an assistant in Dallas from 2020 to 2024.
Pittsburgh's decision to hire McCarthy certainly made headlines; however, considering the success Tolzien had with Shough this season and the numbers that Dak Prescott put up under him in 2023, it is a smart move from McCarthy to consider bringing in someone he is already familiar with.
Ex-Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Reportedly Eyeing Scott Tolzien Reunion in Pittsburgh
When Prescott was fully healthy during the 2023 season — Tolzien's first of two seasons as Dallas' QBs coach — he completed a career-high 69.5% of his throws for 4,516 yards, 36 TDs to nine interceptions, and a 105.9 passer rating. Those were the third-most passing yards and the second-most TDs in Prescott's career, which speaks to the success the pairing had together.
Shough did not make his first career start until a Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams; however, he ended up leading the Saints to four consecutive wins while completing an impressive 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards with 10 TDs and six interceptions on the season. He also added 186 rush yards and three TDs, showcasing his skills under Tolzien's guidance.
In addition to Prescott and Shough, Tolzien has also worked with former Cowboys QB Trey Lance. While he only appeared in four games for Dallas, Lance got a nice deal in free agency ahead of the 2025 season when he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The status of Super Bowl-champion QB and four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers is still up in the air for next season, but even if he does return, the belief is that Pittsburgh will take a QB in the draft.
Alabama's Ty Simpson, widely projected to be the second QB off the board, could be an option if he is still around when the 21st overall pick rolls around for Pittsburgh. Will Howard, the 2025 sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, is already on the team and could be another young signal-caller who could find some success with Tolzien.
It is still early for McCarthy in Pittsburgh, but there is a chance he could bring a few players from Dallas with him to the Steelers, considering the tight money situation the Cowboys find themselves in. Regardless of the consensus, though, the familiarity with Tolzien, both as a player and coach, presents an interesting scenario for McCarthy as he looks to build his staff.
The 38-year-old Tolzien is still relatively inexperienced and would present a gamble for the Steelers if they bring him in. With that said, his past success with Prescott and Shough, specifically, suggests this may not be the worst move from McCarthy.
It may not be the most popular, either, but with an unknown QB situation and another quick playoff exit behind them, the Steelers are still searching for answers. As of now, this one makes a lot of sense for McCarthy, giving Dallas fans another storyline to follow if the number of ex-Cowboys in the Steel City continues to grow.