NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
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 stepped down after 19 years as a head coach, winning a Super Bowl and never having a losing season during his tenure, leaving big shoes to fill. Bettis said he is excited about what McCarthy brings to the table.
“I definitely think he’s a fundamental coach. He’s won a championship, so he’s a championship-caliber head coach. He knows what success looks like,” Bettis told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
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 his quarterback. Now, over a decade and a half later, he begins a new chapter as the Steelers head coach, with Rodgers once again at quarterback.
“We’re excited to have him start the next chapter of the Steelers organization from a management perspective. I think there’s a lot of excitement for what he brings to the table,” Bettis said.
Bettis said Tomlin had a “hell of a run” as the Steelers’ head coach. He said he knew there was a possibility Tomlin would step down simply because of the length of his tenure.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands on the sideline before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Barry Reeger/Imagn Images)
“I was surprised, but in the same breath, I wasn’t. He had been there 19 years. I mean, it’s a hell of a run on schedule. So you knew he had spent a lot of time with the organization. It’s never a good time to walk away. So it was surprising because nobody expected it,” Bettis said.
“I certainly didn’t expect it to happen, but I knew the opportunity is always there when it’s been 19-20 years of being in an organization.”
Bettis said he is grateful for what Tomlin did for the organization.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Jerome Bettis speaks on SiriusXM during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, La., on Feb. 5, 2025. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Bettis is one of the best running backs in Steelers history. Bettis, nicknamed “The Bus,” is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 13 seasons in the NFL, with 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, running for three touchdowns during their playoff run.
Bettis will play in the American Century Tournament from the 10th-12th. July at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. It will air on NBC and Peacock.
