Former Steelers RB Believes Mike McCarthy Can Bring a Lombardi Trophy to Pittsburgh Beyond 2026
On Friday, July 10th, 2026, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge appeared on the Straight Facts Homie! Podcast and spoke about the team's upcoming season and the potential that they now have under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Pittsburgh has a track record of fantastic coaches throughout their team's history. McCarthy is just the fourth coach employed by the Steelers since 1969, and the three before him helped the Steelers become Super Bowl Champions. The 62-year-old head coach also has a championship ring to his name, as he defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV as the Green Bay Packers' head coach. Already, reports have flown across the internet detailing the changes in the Steelers' practices, mindset, and passion. Some are fond of these changes, while others, such as Ben Roethlisberger, worry that his approach to practice is too intense. Regardless, the Super Bowl XLV Champion head coach has instilled a new sense of football in Pittsburgh, and many current players and reporters have noticed and embraced the change with excitement. Hoge, while appearing on the podcast, noted that McCarthy is extremely likely to be the fourth straight coach to win a Super Bowl in the Steel City.
When McCarthy was signed, many black-and-gold fans were unhappy, as they had hoped the Steelers would turn to younger faces for their head coaching vacancy. Now, however, the 62-year-old has shown his ability to build an offense and pull the most out of his players. Hoge acknowledged this too, saying, “I think all the things that are being implemented and planted are just fundamental, foundational pillars that are going to develop. They’re gonna bring the seventh Super Bowl to the Steelers, eventually. Is it this year? Probably not. What they’re doing is in the right direction.” Truthfully, McCarthy brings a desperately needed spark to Pittsburgh. Of the past eight seasons, seven have been between eight and 10 wins, with the past three each at 10-7. Former head coach Mike Tomlin became complacent and allowed a stellar defense to decline under a terrible defensive coordinator, while his offenses could never thrive due to poor, short-term offensive coordination. McCarthy’s won a ring before, with Aaron Rodgers, the same quarterback he now gets to coach again, so what’s to say he can’t do it again?
After quickly winning over his team's love and support, one has to wonder whether McCarthy has done enough at this point to actually turn the Steelers into Super Bowl contenders. He’s brought in a completely new coaching staff, including Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, who was able to turn a Las Vegas Raiders defense without many superstars into the 14th-best defense a season ago, and now he gets to work with the most expensive defense in the league. Moves were made, including trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and signing a plethora of talent in Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and Sebastian Joseph-Day, which points to McCarthy’s ability to influence players to come to the Steel City. It also shows the immediate relationship he’s made with general manager Omar Khan. The surrounding talent is there, but without a strong leader at quarterback, the Steelers could be in trouble. After Rodgers retires, the 62-year-old head coach will have to live up to his reputation as a QB whisperer and get Will Howard or Drew Allar ready to be a franchise starter. Many think Pittsburgh will make a big jump under McCarthy this upcoming season, and whether it’s in 2026 or not for another five years, the former Packers coach is on track to bring the Steel City its seventh Lombardi.
