Many people were surprised when the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to be their next head coach. There was an expectation that the Steelers would follow the same formula that they’d used to land their last three head coaches. However, they opted for something different in McCarthy, and much of the fan base initially didn’t love that decision. A lot of people have come around on McCarthy, though. Former NFL defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins shared his experiences with McCarthy, and he thinks Pittsburgh made a good decision.
“I played for the guy that’s with y’all, Mike McCarthy,” Hankins said recently on his Big Time Talks podcast. “Nothing but good, positive things…Amazing coach. Willing and able to listen to players’ perspective, understanding how practice should go.
“I had him for two years. Obviously, he didn’t get the job done against the 49ers. But when it comes to preparation, being ready at all times, and being a 12-year, 13-year [veteran] for myself, taking care of veteran guys at that age, top notch. Seeing him sign to the Pittsburgh Steelers, seeing his press conference, getting a little bit emotional, you got you a guy…Y’all in great hands.”
Hankins played for McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys in 2022 and 2023. Those were some of the head coach’s best seasons there, going 12-5 both years and winning a playoff game in 2022. While the Cowboys’ postseason exits each of those years weren’t pretty, McCarthy still had them in the championship conversation.
Also, Hankins’ comments about McCarthy being good for veteran players are important to note. The Steelers have an older roster, with some of their best players being on the wrong side of 30. It might’ve been tough for them to adjust to a new head coach, but it sounds like McCarthy should jell well with them.
However, there are still some concerns about McCarthy. The biggest of which is arguably his lack of recent postseason success. While his Cowboys made the playoffs three times, they only won a single playoff game.
McCarthy’s teams suffered multiple disappointing postseason trips. That’s also been a huge problem for the Steelers. Can the two of them fix their issues together? That figures to be one of McCarthy’s greatest tests in Pittsburgh. Hankins is confident he’s the right man for the job, but we’ll see if that holds true when the bullets start flying.
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