Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has suddenly found himself in the middle of the coaching carousel this offseason after getting little to no interest last year. Dallas parted ways with McCarthy at the end of the 2024 campaign, ending his run with a 49-35 regular-season record. His 1-3 showing in the postseason forced a split, though, leading to Brian Schottenheimer ultimately becoming the head coach.
McCarthy reportedly interviewed with the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints for their head coaching vacancies. However, it didn’t go anywhere as the ex-Dallas head coach decided to focus on the upcoming hiring cycle in 2026.
That gamble has paid off for McCarthy, who finds himself in the mix for the Tennessee Titans and now the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching vacancies.
Ex-Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Buzz Increases as Steelers Show Interest
On Saturday, Easton Freeze of A to Z Sports reported that the former Cowboys head coach is meeting with the Titans for a second time. Freeze adds that this interview spans multiple days, as McCarthy had dinner with the Titans’ brass on Friday night and a full-day meeting on Saturday.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen McCarthy connected to Tennessee. In December, Connor Orr of SI.com reported that McCarthy is viewed by some as the frontrunner for their head coach opening.
The interest doesn't stop there, though. On Sunday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pittsburgh is expected to speak with McCarthy about their opening. He has a lot of ties to the area, as he’s from Pittsburgh and has a relationship with general manager Omar Khan, which could work well in the Steelers’ favor.
For McCarthy, this is a good spot to be in after not coaching for a season. With John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski off the market, there isn’t a premier head coaching candidate who has McCarthy’s experience.
If the ex-Cowboys coach were to get the Titans’ job, he’d get a chance to work with Cam Ward and help rebuild that Tennessee roster. A few tweaks could put Tennessee in the convo in an improved AFC South.
However, being the head coach for another historic franchise, such as the Steelers, and possibly reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, whom he coached in Green Bay for several years, is an enticing opportunity for McCarthy. And, as mentioned earlier, McCarthy has ties to the city of Pittsburgh, making it a full-circle moment for him.
That said, it will be interesting to see if McCarthy lands either job or if another team decides to jump into the mix. Despite three 12-win seasons in the Lone Star State, he couldn't get the job done in the playoffs, leaving time to tell if the ex-Cowboys HC will have better luck wherever he ends up next.