Will Mike McCarthy Prove That You Can Go Home Again?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is introduced at a press conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

In assessing what we’re about to receive, Mike McCarthy couldn’t have been more spot on; we’re about to find out if he’s the right man for the job.

“I think the honeymoon is kind of over now,” McCarthy observed on Wednesday.

He was referencing the palpable shift in the vibe on the South Side now that practices have transitioned from preseason mode to preparing for a specific opponent for the Steelers’ season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 13.

But McCarthy might just as well have been assessing the mood of Steeler Nation, at least the vocal and social media-obsessed portion, who have made it clear they’re fed up with the Steelers not having won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017.

The Steelers have won a lot of regular-season games since then, including 13 in 2017, 12 in 2020 and 30 over the last three seasons combined. But seven consecutive playoff losses have rendered such achievements, even last season’s AFC North Division championship — the Steelers’ fourth since the postseason drought commenced — meaningless in the eyes of many who twirl towels with passion.

That’s not right, but that’s the way it is.

It’s also not McCarthy’s baggage; the Steelers will nonetheless be toting it on Sunday at Acrisure.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The fans, a great many, at any rate, are going to demand instant gratification and answers — even if no such definitive answers can be forthcoming until January. The Steelers have games at New England and then back at home against Cincinnati on deck after they take on Atlanta this Sunday.

So it would behoove McCarthy to win the opener. No one is going to care about him being from Greenfield any more if he doesn’t.

That’s a pressure McCarthy no doubt saw coming upon accepting his dream job back in January — but now he’ll have to deal with it.

McCarthy had appeared to be well on the way to doing so on Monday, when he was asked if the Steelers’ two preseason home games had been enough to get him over what has to be a profound emotional component associated with being a Pittsburgh guy who is actually coaching the Steelers.

“I’m ready to compete,” he said then.

As it turns out, that’s an emotion that never goes away. At least it hasn’t yet.

“Being from here, this is heavy, being here,” McCarthy admitted on Wednesday. “You ride the streets that you grew up [on], that you walked on, and do it every day. So, so many great memories here. Some memories are heavy. So, yeah, that’s real.

“I’m at the point in my life, at this age [62], I reflect more than I did 10, 15 years ago. So, that’s all part of it. So, yeah, definitely, I’ve had time to do that. But the most important part of it is the fact that you’re the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which I have a tremendous amount of pride in, not only being from here but what the Pittsburgh Steelers stand for, and the responsibility that myself and everybody has to this organization and really for the players and coaches before us.

“So, trust me, that lays on me every single day. It’s important. It makes me jump out of bed.”

Lose to the Falcons and McCarthy might find himself tempted, at least temporarily, to resist the whole jump-out-of-bed thing.

Just win, baby.

If he does enough of that, McCarthy may yet establish you really can go home again.