The Pittsburgh Steelers are banking on remaining competitive and in that AFC contender tier while transitioning from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy at head coach in 2026.
Though McCarthy was the surprise choice considering his age and how the Steelers have always operated, the Steelers went with the proven commodity, one that can develop quarterbacks and bring an offensive mindset to the table.
That might be the biggest difference right away for the Steelers under McCarthy. But for former Dallas Cowboys linebacker and Pittsburgh native Sean Lee what McCarthy brings to the table from an analytics and practice perspective will do wonders for the Steelers.
Appearing on the Christian Kuntz Podcast that published Thursday, Lee spoke highly of McCarthy, whom he played for in Dallas in 2020.
“You’re going from one Hall of Fame coach to another Hall of Fame coach…Mike, who is the same type of guy, incredible offensive coach, incredible guy who’s adapting practices. My last year — when I first got in the NFL practice was Wednesday pads, Thursday shell, Friday red zone. Well, Mike’s gonna change practice and use sensors, use analytics to really mold his practices week in and week out,” Lee said, according to video via the show’s YouTube page. “So he’s got the incredible offensive background of being a play caller, and then he’s got this kind of ability to adapt with his practices. And he’s an unbelievable person, great guy. Ton of fun to be around; a true football guy.
“So you’re gonna get the combination of this Pittsburgh old-school toughness along with his offensive innovation along with the way he kind of has changed over time with his practices.”
Practices have largely changed from when a guy like Lee — who came into the NFL in 2010 — played to what they are today. A limit on padded practices in training camp is in place, as well as during the season. It’s not like the old days, yet those practices are still so valuable leading up to games.
It takes a good coach to get the best out of them, and to hear that McCarthy leans into analytics and really tries to adapt his practices to his players is refreshing. Analytics are a big part of what McCarthy is and does as a head coach, too, something he shared shortly after being hired to be the 17th head coach of the Steelers.
For many, that was probably surprising considering the old-school coach he is, one who has been around the NFL since the late 1990s. But all good coaches adapt, and that’s what McCarthy has done.
He’ll try to help the Steelers adapt, too, and bring them into the new age of analytics and football moving forward. It will start in practice sessions, Lee said.
Things didn’t go well in Lee’s only season under McCarthy as the Cowboys went 6-10 and he played in just nine games due to injuries. But that didn’t diminish the impact McCarthy had on Lee. Now, he can’t wait to see what his former coach does back home.
“It’s an incredible story, too, to think of a guy who grew up in Pittsburgh, who’s had an incredible coaching career and now is able to be back home with their hometown team,” Lee said. “I can’t wait to watch him ’cause he’s a great coach, great person.
“The Steelers are in good hands, there’s no doubt.”
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