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NFL·June 22, 2026 02:58 PM ET

J.J. Watt weighs in on Mike McCarthy's challenge replacing Tomlin in Pittsburgh

Watt flags weight of Steelers history on McCarthy.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 221 min read
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"It's gonna be very interesting to watch how this goes because of the ... history of Pittsburgh." —@JJWatt on Mike McCa

What happened: J.J. Watt addressed the transition in Pittsburgh, where Mike McCarthy has taken over as head coach following Mike Tomlin's long tenure. Watt said it will be "very interesting to watch how this goes" given the depth of the franchise's history.

Why it matters: The handoff ends one of the most stable head-coaching runs in the NFL and raises the stakes for McCarthy in a market with high expectations and a tradition of continuity. How he manages the locker room and that legacy will shape the Steelers' direction heading into the 2026 season.

What to watch: Attention now turns to how McCarthy sets the tone through the summer and into the 2026 campaign as Pittsburgh adjusts to its first new voice atop the staff in years.

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