Mike McCarthy received a D-minus grade from Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon through four games of his first Pittsburgh season, placing him in the bottom third of NFL head coaches evaluated at the quarter mark. The Steelers sit 2-2. The grade surprised no one inside the building.
Gagnon's methodology weights process over record—play-calling predictability, timeout management, fourth-down decisions, and whether the locker room looks unified on broadcast cuts. McCarthy's Dallas tenure ended with a 12-5 playoff loss and immediate dismissal; Pittsburgh signed him to a four-year, $28 million deal in February with $18 million guaranteed. The hire followed Mike Tomlin's unexpected resignation after seventeen consecutive non-losing seasons and zero coordinator promotions. McCarthy inherited defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, offensive coordinator Matt Canada's replacement Eddie Faulkner, and a roster built for Tomlin's Tampa-2 shell.
The grade matters less than the timing. Coordinator hires traditionally cement by Week 6 when bye weeks begin and GMs gauge whether their pairing works. McCarthy kept Austin after one offseason meeting; Austin's unit ranks 22nd in EPA per play and has allowed 4.8 yards per carry, numbers that bracket the Steelers' historical identity. Three defensive assistants have begun fielding texts from agents representing available coordinators, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations. One mentioned Vic Fangio's name. Another said Fangio's age—he turns 68 in August—makes it unlikely unless the offer includes a two-year guarantee north of $4 million annually.
Pittsburgh's offense grades 12th in EPA per play but 28th in red-zone touchdown rate, the kind of split that gets coordinators fired and head coaches questioned. McCarthy calls plays himself. Faulkner manages personnel groupings. The division of labor worked in Dallas when Kellen Moore handled situational game-planning; Moore now runs Philadelphia's offense, and the Eagles rank 3rd in red-zone efficiency. McCarthy interviewed Moore for the Steelers job in March. Moore declined. He told one confidant he wanted full control or no control, not a hybrid.
The Steelers' locker room remains stable. Quarterback Russell Wilson—$27 million cap hit this season, $31 million next—praised McCarthy's "detailed preparation" in a Tuesday press conference. Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, negotiated a clause allowing Wilson to request a trade if the team misses the playoffs and McCarthy returns; that clause activates in February. It's standard language for veteran quarterbacks joining new systems, but it's also a fact.
Pittsburgh's schedule softens after Week 6. Five of the next eight opponents currently hold losing records. McCarthy's Dallas teams consistently outperformed expectations from Weeks 7 through 12—his career record in November is 37-19—before collapsing in January. Rooney family ownership historically grants new coaches two full seasons regardless of Year 1 results, but historically the Steelers also promoted from within. McCarthy is the first external head-coach hire since Bill Cowher in 1992.
Three things to watch: Austin's defensive staff movements by the Week 9 bye, any coordinator interviews leaking from Pittsburgh's South Side facility, and whether Wilson's camp begins backgrounding beat writers on "schematic fit" concerns. That phrase, in NFL parlance, means the agent is building an exit file.
McCarthy's next opponent is the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. The Raiders rank 31st in pass rush win rate. If Pittsburgh's offensive line allows more than two sacks, the grade won't improve.
The takeaway
McCarthy's poor early grade triggers quiet coordinator churn and activates Russell Wilson's trade-request window if Pittsburgh misses playoffs.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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