Guardians and Cubs Tickets for the Home Opener

Whatever happens with any team in the AFC North affects the other three clubs in the division.

With that having been said, then, what in the name of emotional letdowns is going on in Pittsburgh?

If you’re a Steelers fan, then you have to be stunned — in a bad way — that your team over the weekend hired Mike McCarthy as head coach. It must be like getting underwear or socks or a membership in the Jelly of the Month Club for Christmas.

FIRST LOOK at Mike McCarthy as Steelers head coach pic.twitter.com/EJ9f1wSfhB

— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) January 24, 2026

You wanted tech stuff or cool clothes or tickets to a concert, which is the equivalent of all
the young unknown coaches who, unlike the other teams, the Steelers have always been able to see as budding stars.

Like Chuck Noll, the Cleveland Benedictine High School and Dayton product who was once Paul Brown’s messenger guard.

Then Bill Cowher, the former Browns linebacker/special teamer who went on to become an assistant coach for the club and even interviewed for the head coaching job in Cleveland once.

And finally Mike Tomlin, who spent a training camp with the Browns as part of the Fritz Pollard Alliance program for the advancement of young African-American coaches. You guys ran him out of town on a rail. You may one day regret it as one of the stupidest things you’ve ever done. indeed, as the old adage goes, be careful what you wish for.

Mike McCarthy is a Pittsburgh guy, but he’s not a Steelers guy because he’s too old. We know what he is, and, while he’s a decent coach, he’s not, on his best day, he’s Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher or Chuck Noll —not even remotely close, in fact.

I don’t know, it may work out just fine, but considering what has happened in the last year, when the Steelers really got out of character concerning the Aaron Rogers situation and never seem to get back on track, this seems to fit right in with all that.

The Steelers Way is long gone, and now it’s merely a way to finish just barely above .500. For the rest of the teams in the division, that’s a real plus.

Steve King

War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team – Behind-the-Scenes with NFL Head Coaches, Scouts, and Players at the Draft and Super Bowl

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