Heyward maps Steelers’ shift from Tomlin to McCarthy

The veteran is adapting to his second NFL head coach

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

Steelers DL @CamHeyward details the differences and similarities between Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy as a head coach o Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Heyward said both coaches share deep football knowledge and a drive to win. He pointed to daily workflow and practice scheduling as clear differences.

Why it matters: The comparison offers a locker-room view of Pittsburgh’s first coaching transition of Heyward’s career. Changes in scheme, terminology and logistics require established veterans to reset routines entering the 2026 season.

By the numbers: Pittsburgh’s practice start moved 2 hours, 55 minutes earlier, from 1:55 p.m. under Tomlin to 11 a.m. under McCarthy.

What to watch: Pittsburgh’s season opener will provide the first regular-season measure of how McCarthy’s approach carries into game preparation.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-09-08T23:23:33.217047+00:00

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