The Pittsburgh Steelers have settled in under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy after some rough moments during the first few weeks of the season and have rode a four-game win streak into their Week 9 bye, leading to a 6-2 record and sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Upon hiring McCarthy after Mike Tomlin stepped down following a 19-year stint at the helm with the Steelers, the general consensus was that the organization downgraded.

Pittsburgh looks like a rejuvenated football team, however, and its ceiling in 2026 appears to be higher than it has been in at least half a decade.

While Tomlin is no stranger to regular season success in the slightest, as evidenced by never turning in a losing campaign with the Steelers , the McCarthy era is off to a better start than anticipated.

While McCarthy and his staff still have to prove their momentum can translate to the postseason, has Pittsburgh's hot start to the year already diminished the legacy Tomlin left behind?

Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh,…