“I thought the team would chart a new course with an assertive young coach they could build something with,” an industry source told Fowler in an ESPN article published hours after news broke. “McCarthy’s a good coach but this isn’t an inspired hire.”
Pittsburgh’s candidate list largely included would-be first-time head coaches. Los Angeles Rams assistants Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase offered plenty of excitement as up and comers. Neither even got an in-person interview. Anthony Weaver may not have initially won fans over but his strong presence with the media likely would’ve had fans feeling differently on the other side of his initial presser.
McCarthy isn’t going to change hearts and minds without results. In fairness, that’s the litmus test for any coach. Many a hire have been greeted with initial warmth only to go belly up. In 2021, Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi opined that the Jacksonville Jaguars hit a “towering grand slam home run” by picking Urban Meyer. There isn’t a baseball analogy bad enough to describe his actual tenure.
The Philadelphia Eagles hiring Nick Sirianni in 2021 was initially questioned, especially after an objectively bad first presser. Eagles fans may remain mixed on Sirianni, but if McCarthy wins Pittsburgh a Super Bowl as Sirianni did last season in Philadelphia, it will be a clear win.
Even for a Pittsburgh kid, McCarthy faces an uphill battle. But if he can identify a quarterback, assemble a strong coaching staff, and win, the initial reaction will be forgotten. Of course, if he and the Steelers struggle, the decision will be panned even more.
