Mike McCarthy might just consider himself a regular guy from Pittsburgh but now he’s the guy chosen to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers.
McCarthy, who launched his head coaching career with the Green Bay Packers 20 years ago, has been hired to be the Steelers’ head coach, a homecoming for the 62-year-old after a lifetime in the business.
Naturally, social media was buzzing with the news that not only McCarthy will coach in his hometown but also that it could potentially open the door for a reunion with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Two former Packers stars who were part of Green Bay’s Super Bowl team coached by McCarthy in 2010 weighed in on their former head coach’s new job. To say they’re ecstatic would be an understatement.
Two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman TJ Lang, who played for the Packers and McCarthy from 2009 to 2016, wrote on X: “So happy for the big Irishman. Chance to lead his hometown team. Cant wait to see what MM can do in the Burgh.”
All-Pro fullback John Kuhn, who played for the Packers from 2007 to 2015 and has Super Bowl rings with both the Packers and Steelers, wrote: “Love this for the Big Guy!”
Mike McCarthy to Steelers, reactions
McCarthy’s head coaching résumé now includes the Packers (2006-18), Dallas Cowboys (2020-24) and Steelers, three of the most storied franchises in NFL history that have a combined 15 Super Bowl championships among them.
That wasn’t lost on many, either, including former Wisconsin star basketball player Sam Dekker:
Steelers hire Mike McCarthy
Former Packers vice president Andrew Brandt, who was part of the team that hired McCarthy in 2006, recalled a conversation during their interview:
“I’m just a regular guy from Pittsburgh,” he remembered McCarthy telling him.
The hiring of McCarthy doesn’t guarantee that Rodgers will be back in Pittsburgh, of course. Rodgers, who spent last season with the Steelers, enters the offseason as a free agent. He can sign with any team.
Rodgers, now 42 years old, could also retire but social media was already pondering the thought of McCarthy and the future Hall of Famer teaming up one final time. McCarthy and Rodgers did a lot of winning together in Green Bay, as they were part of eight straight playoff teams from 2009 to 2016, the longest such streak in franchise history.
The crowning achievement, of course, was the Super Bowl title after the 2010 season when they defeated Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. McCarthy now is replacing Tomlin at the helm.
Packers, Mike McCarthy in the Super Bowl
Here’s a look back at when McCarthy took the Packers into Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl 45 and beat the Steelers, 31-25, to win the franchise’s fourth Lombardi Trophy. Both the Packers and Steelers haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How ex-Packers players are reacting to Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
