The countdown is officially on: the Mike McCarthy era kicks off for the Pittsburgh Steelers in exactly eight weeks against the Atlanta Falcons. McCarthy was hired back in January, stepping in after taking a year off following five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, a tenure that included three consecutive 12-win seasons from 2021-23. While many initially panned the hiring, with the overwhelming thought being that Pittsburgh should have aimed for a younger, up-and-coming coach, one of McCarthy’s former colleagues has definitely come to his defense.
Jon Gruden Is Backing Mike McCarthy, But Are Steelers Fans?
Appearing on Cam Heyward’s *Not Just Football* podcast, former head coach Jon Gruden had a clear message for Heyward and the Steelers faithful: put your trust in the Super Bowl champion coach. Gruden didn’t hold back, saying, “I just hope he goes into Pittsburgh with a case of whoop ass.” He added, “And I hope you guys trust him and roll with him because he is a hell of a coach.” That’s a pretty strong endorsement from a guy who knows a thing or two about coaching in the NFL. It’s a definite counter-narrative to the initial skepticism. Does that change anything for those fans who wanted a different direction? We’ll see how quickly Gruden’s optimism takes hold once the real games start.
From Pitt to Pittsburgh: McCarthy’s Journey Continues
Gruden and McCarthy actually go way back, all the way to 1991 at the University of Pittsburgh. Gruden was the wide receivers coach, and McCarthy was a graduate assistant. When Gruden eventually left for the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy stepped up and took over as the wide receivers coach at Pitt. It’s a full-circle moment for McCarthy to now be leading an NFL team in the same city. The Steelers are set to report to Latrobe for training camp on Tuesday, July 28, with their first practice slated for Wednesday, July 29. Then it’s straight into preseason action, kicking off on August 13 against the Green Bay Packers.
With training camp just around the corner, opening July 28, Pittsburgh fans will get their first real look at how McCarthy plans to lead this team. The preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on August 13 will be a crucial first test before the Falcons roll into town to kick off the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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