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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 resigned after 19 years as head coach, won a Super Bowl and never had a losing season in his tenure, leaving 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 Pak Gazette 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 is beginning a new chapter as head coach of the Steelers, with Rodgers once again as his quarterback.
“We’re excited that he’s starting the next chapter of the Steelers organization in terms of a leadership perspective. I think there’s a lot of excitement about what he brings,” Bettis said.
Bettis said Tomlin had a “great career” as the Steelers’ head coach. He said he knew there was a chance Tomlin would walk away simply because of the length of his term.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands on the sidelines before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 12, 2026. (Barry Reeger/Image Images)
“I was surprised, but at the same time I wasn’t. I had been there 19 years. I mean, it’s an incredible career in terms of timeline. So, you knew he had dedicated a lot of time to the organization. It’s never a good time to leave. So it was surprising that no one expected it,” Bettis said.
“I definitely didn’t expect this to happen, but I knew the possibility always exists when you’ve been in an organization for 19 or 20 years.”
Bettis said he is grateful for what Tomlin did 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 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 13 NFL seasons, the last 10 with the Steelers, Bettis ran for 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 rushed for three touchdowns during their playoff run.
Bettis will play in the American Century Tournament July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. It will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
