The rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers was at a crossroads this offseason. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Ravens fired their longtime head coach, John Harbaugh. Then, after going one-and-done in the playoffs again, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin decided to step away from coaching.
Harbaugh and Tomlin were the two-longest head coaches in the NFL. Tomlin spent 19 years with the Steelers and Harbaugh spent 18 years with the Ravens. The two had one of the most storied rivalries in recent football history, and now, both franchises will restart with a new face in charge.
The Ravens signed former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to a five-year deal on Thursday. It was immediately praised as one of the best moves of the cycle.
While Baltimore signed a younger defensive mind, Pittsburgh went in the opposite direction. On Saturday, they signed Mike McCarthy as their next head coach. The 62-year-old is a proven offensive mind, but the move is possibly the most polarizing hire thus far.
For Ravens fans, they couldn’t be more relieved.
Steelers make polarizing Mike McCarthy hire
Let’s set the record straight: McCarthy is a winner. In 18 years as a head coach, he’s compiled a record of 174-112-2. That includes a Super Bowl win with the Green Bay Packers in 2010. However, he’s also been fired twice. He was fired by the Packers in the middle of the 2018 season and lost his job with the Dallas Cowboys following a 7-10 season in 2024.
While the Ravens enforced a culture reset with a younger hire in Minter, many expected the Steelers to do the same. They interviewed some strong candidates who fit the billing, too.
Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores were near the top of Pittsburgh’s list and appeared to be favorites to land the job in the eyes of the media. Instead, they opted to go the veteran coach route with McCarthy, and it has the Ravens fanbase breathing a sigh of relief.
McCarthy could find some success in Pittsburgh. It’s a move that could keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers around, and the team will likely stay competitive under McCarthy’s guidance. However, many expected the post-Tomlin era to be a complete culture change, with a younger coach leading the way for the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, this decision feels like a desperate move where the Steelers are trying to keep their heads above water and stay in playoff contention. As a result, the Ravens may be getting a head start on their coaching reset.