Mike McCarthy, in just over one-third of the 2026 NFL regular season, has already stamped his mark as one of the league’s top new head coaches. CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell just dropped his rankings for all ten first-year head coaches, and McCarthy landed in fourth place overall with a solid B- grade, proving he’s quickly getting the Steelers on track.
McCarthy’s Steelers Are Finding Their Groove
You gotta hand it to McCarthy, he’s got Pittsburgh humming. After a rough start where they were only averaging a dismal 11.5 points per game in the first two weeks (the second-fewest in the entire league, yikes), they’ve completely flipped the script. Since Week 3, the Steelers are dropping an impressive 28.5 points per game, which is the fifth-most in the NFL. That’s a serious turnaround and it shows McCarthy’s offense is adding some much-needed life to their attack. Just look at their epic 26-19 overtime road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They pulled off their largest fourth-quarter comeback since the 2002 AFC Wild Card Round, clawing back from a 13-point, 16-3 deficit. That kind of fight tells you everything you need to know about the mentality McCarthy is building.
The AFC North Is an Absolute Bottleneck
This is where things get wild. McCarthy’s 4-2 record puts him in a three-way tie for the most wins among all new head coaches. The Bills’ Joe Brady, ranked second overall, is leading the new HC pack at 5-1, but McCarthy is right there. What’s even crazier? Despite McCarthy ranking fourth league-wide, he’s actually *last* among the three new head coaches in the AFC North. The Browns’ Todd Monken (4-2, ranked first) and the Ravens’ Jesse Minter (4-2 record, ranked third) are both ahead of him in Podell’s list. Right now, the Steelers are sitting second in the division, but with three teams all at 4-2, and the Bengals lurking right behind at 3-2, the AFC North is shaping up to be one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions this season. Every single game in that division is gonna be a dogfight.
McCarthy’s Quest for History
At 62, McCarthy brings a ton of wisdom to the Steelers. He’s by far the most experienced head coach in the AFC North, with 18 prior seasons under his belt with the Packers and Cowboys. During that long career, he’s won his division eight times and never once finished in last place, which is an insane stat. While it’s not clear how long he’ll be coaching in Pittsburgh, McCarthy is chasing NFL history. He’s trying to become the first head coach to win a Super Bowl with two separate teams. That’s a massive goal, and if he keeps getting the Steelers to play like they have since Week 3, the AFC North better be ready for a veteran who knows how to win. The division is tight, and McCarthy’s Steelers are absolutely in the thick of it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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