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For the first time since 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired a head coach this offseason, bringing in Mike McCarthy, and team legend Jerome Bettis is excited about the move.
Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 years as head coach, winning a Super Bowl and never having a losing season during his tenure, leaving some big shoes to fill. Bettis said he’s excited about what McCarthy brings to the table.
“I think he’s definitely a fundamental-type coach. He’s won a championship, so he’s a championship-caliber head coach. He knows what success looks like,” Bettis told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers listens to head coach Mike McCarthy during NFL practice in Pittsburgh on May 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
McCarthy was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2011, when they beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. Now, more than a decade and a half later, he begins a new chapter as head coach of the Steelers, with Rodgers once again his quarterback.
“We’re excited for him to begin the next chapter of the Steelers organization in terms of a leadership perspective. I think there’s a lot of excitement for what he brings to the table,” Bettis said.
Bettis said Tomlin had a “hell of a run” as Steelers head coach. He said he knew it was possible Tomlin would step down simply because of the length of his term.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands on the sideline before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 12, 2026. (Barry Reeger/Imagn Images)
“I was surprised, but at the same time, I wasn’t. He was there for 19 years. I mean, it’s quite a journey in terms of timing. So, you knew he put a lot of time into the organization. It’s never a good time to leave. So, it was surprising in the sense that no one expected it,” Bettis said.
“I certainly didn’t expect this to happen, but I knew that possibility always exists after 19 to 20 years of service in an organization.”
Bettis said he is grateful for what Tomlin has done for the organization.
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Jerome Bettis speaks on SiriusXM during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 5, 2025. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Bettis is one of the best running backs in Steelers history. Nicknamed “The Bus,” Bettis is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 13 NFL seasons, including the last 10 with the Steelers, Bettis has totaled 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns while catching 200 passes for 1,449 yards and three touchdowns. He was an integral part of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL victory over the Seattle Seahawks, as he scored three touchdowns during their playoff run.
Bettis will compete in the American Century tournament July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. It will air on NBC and Peacock.
