The Pomp And Joe Show
10AM - Mike McCarthy apparently wants Aaron Rodgers back in 2026; Browns hire Todd Monken, Steelers should call Jim Schwartz
28 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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All right, good afternoon.
Chapter 2: What are the implications of Mike McCarthy being hired as the Steelers' head coach?
Thanks, everybody, for being with us on this special occasion. It may be irrelevant to some of you, but I like the fact that today is my grandfather's birthday, and he would have loved the fact that we're hiring a guy from Greenfield to be our coach. But having said that, him being from Greenfield had little to do with our decision here.
It's really great to be able to hire somebody who has such a tremendous winning track record and won everywhere he's been. And so it gives us great confidence to welcome Mike. And so I am happy to introduce Mike McCarthy, the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike.
All right, here we go. Thank you, Art. I think I thought at least be able to get started. You know, oftentimes, coaches and players, you know, you put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in those new colors. But to be blessed beyond any measure, one day to put on the colors you wore since you brought home. I apologize.
Right, I told you not to sit my family down here in front. This is so unfair when you come home from Mercy Hospital.
Mike McCarthy introduces himself or reintroduces himself to Pittsburgh, Bob. He was born in Mercy Hospital. How about you, Mercy Hospital? My daughter was born at McGee.
No, I was born in Aliquippa Hospital.
Aliquippa Hospital. Was Ron there? Just to oversee things? He might have been. I was there. Bob, impressions. That's what we're going with early today. I mean, the story to me... is what he said about Aaron Rodgers. That's the football story. There's a football story, and then there's a first impression.
Yeah, the first impression, I thought he was authentically Pittsburgh. And I think people love to see that. Especially fans who are not 100% X's and O's, and they just want to see stuff like that. They get emotional with him. He's a very emotional guy, which I like. And I think he's really appreciative of this opportunity to get here. And he knows that he has...
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Chapter 3: What does Mike McCarthy say about wanting Aaron Rodgers back in 2026?
Although I think some people look at that and recoil from it. I do. You've seen some of the reaction. For me... For me, when I see that, I'm like, oh, my God, this is unbelievable. This is great stuff. This is real. There's nothing at all fake about this. And here's the conclusion I draw. He's going to be an easy guy for people to root for. And it won't take long if things go well.
They open the season, I don't know, pick one of their opponents on the road with a win, come home and win a game. He's going to have people eating out of the palm of his hand, Bob. He will. He's an easy guy to root for. He's a Pittsburgher right down to his core. And he's very real. So all of that is true. You never get a chance to make a second impression.
That part of it, to me at least, was a good first impression. But then the football stuff happened. And to me, the rest of it, to borrow an old Mike Tomlin phrase, is elevator music. All I heard was Benzie off the top rope and Mike McCarthy saying Aaron Rodgers. Would you be interested? Definitely. I mean, to me, we can start with both those things with our listeners out there.
And I'll say this, too. I'm not going to say that phrase anymore, Bob. Of course, if I'm saying it, then I'll say this. It sounds so like official and like a proclamation. Who gives a crap? But here's my thoughts anyway. Listening to Pony and Mueller yesterday, the immediate reaction was ferociously negative from their callers, from their callers. Different story with the morning show.
And a different story with the Twitter poll that I put out, about 1,500 people. Now, that's not a scientific measurement. That's a lot of people. It is. Any political poll you'll see is not going to be many more than that. There's a margin of error, let's say, but that's still a good number. Do you feel better, worse, or the same about the McCarthy hire after this news conference?
1,500 people so far. 45% say the same. Okay, so just about half say, I feel the same. But of the rest, a full 41% said better and only 14% said worse. So my feelings going in, I think, I don't know if you had the same, are justified or at least turned out to be true that he was going to win the news conference and that the vibe would shift at least a little bit. Do you sense the same?
Did you do a show last night? We did. How was that?
What was the vibe there? The vibe was the same. I mean, people were, you know, impressed. With the fact that this guy's coming home, his heartstrings are out there, it's real, it's authentic, that sort of stuff. And I like that. I do. I also think the guy has a pretty good resume that people like as well. We got that take. But then you have to go out and do it.
And then you have to change what has become, you know, a regular kind of routine for the last decade.
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Chapter 4: How did the press conference impact public perception of McCarthy?
And that's what has to change. Now, whether or not it could happen now or in the future, it may not happen in the first year. And I think people will then... complain because it's been a continuation. But you'd agree he's here to win in the first year.
Yes. He spoke of it. Art has spoken of it.
It's a veteran roster. He's a great guy for a veteran roster. It's harder to do it when you don't have necessary pieces. And again, the quarterback thing is the one piece.
I'll tell you this much. if he doesn't at least get to 9-8 the way Tomlin did, it will have to be viewed as a miserable failure because Tomlin even got to 8-8 with Duck Hodges. So no matter who the quarterback is, he better for a lot of people and for Art, and for Art I would think, and Omar, he better keep that non-losing streak alive.
They need to win a playoff game.
At the very least. Yeah, that's what they have to do. They need a quarterback, Bob, and that brings us to this. Usually it's Benzie late in the game. Usually he gets the ball in his hands late, Bob, and takes the winning shot at the news conferences. Today, Benzie wanted to get involved earlier or yesterday. He wanted the ball early. He wanted to take a big shot and set the tone.
And this is what happened.
I'm not asking this from any other perspective except your own personal preference. In your best case scenario, do you want Aaron Rodgers back as your quarterback next year?
That's nice the way he asked that, right? That was slick. But, I mean, definitely. I mean, I don't see why you wouldn't. But, you know, I think just like anything, you know, knowing Aaron long enough going through seasons, you know, I think when players, you know, to see Mel Blunt here, I mean, when guys ā or up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress.
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Chapter 5: What are the reactions to the Browns hiring Todd Monken?
I read that as if he was put in a situation where he had to say, of course you would want me. You know, oh, yeah, sure, you'd want him back. Why wouldn't you? He's a Hall of Fame quarterback. It just struck me differently than maybe it struck you. That's all.
Interesting, because even the way he said definitely, he could have, well, he could have not said that word, but he could have lightened it up a little. And also, he simply could have said something along the lines of, best case, sure, but I have no idea what Aaron wants to do.
I kind of took it that way. That's how I took it. Now, that's probably not how a lot of people took it. If you want to look strictly, literally at what he said, then you would come away with what you think. And that may be true. I don't know it's true. All I know is how I listened to that, I thought, okay, he's giving respect to a guy who's going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Interesting.
All right. Well, how did you hear it out there at 412-928-9370? Let's hear it again, Limits, and let's hear the way, to me, the way his word choice works. And his emphasis on the word and the fact that he had spoken with Aaron. Bob, if he spoke with Rodgers and Rodgers said, Mike, I'm done. Don't even call me. Then I don't think he says that at the news conference yesterday.
I also think he's going to defer to Aaron to make that announcement. I don't think he wants to be the one to do it. For sure.
He wasn't going to say, no, he's not playing anymore. But I would have thought if Aaron told him, I'm not playing. And Rogers and McCarthy took that question yesterday. Then I think the answer would have been way lighter. Like I said, yeah, sure. I guess best case, but I have no idea what Aaron's going to do. We have no idea. You know, we got to move ahead with the guys we have.
That's a conversation for a later day. Sure. That was not it. Here's Benzie from the top rope once again.
I'm not asking this from any other perspective except your own personal preference. In your best case scenario, do you want Aaron Rodgers back as your quarterback next year?
That's nice the way he asked that, right? That was slick. But, I mean, definitely. I mean, obviously, why you wouldn't? But, you know, I think just like anything, you know, knowing Aaron long enough going through seasons, you know, I think when players, you know, to see Mel Blunt here, I mean, when guys ā or up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress.
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Chapter 6: What do fans think about the Steelers' quarterback situation?
It's his decision to make, and I don't think he's in a position to say one thing or the other. Um, you know, so he's not going to say absolutely not knowing that Aaron may say, yes, I'm coming back. And then that becomes a big catastrophe.
Now, the way, the way Benzie asked it was interesting too, in your best case scenario. And that sort of speaks to your side, Bob is he said, yeah, in my best case scenario. Sure. Maybe. But that's not what I heard. I know.
That's how I viewed it. That's how I soaked it in. It's literally what it is. If you read it, just read it. Like you would do in a newspaper column or in a tweet. You would think, definitely. That word means definite. I don't know. It seemed to me like it's still very much up in the air.
I hear you. And it's interesting how people... hear the same thing and interpret it differently. So again, how did you interpret it out there at 928-9370? But most importantly, Bob, what do you think of the idea? Clearly the idea that the Steelers have said they're open to it. They hired Mike McCarthy, who people are now on the record as saying if there's one guy he'd play for, it's McCarthy.
And then you heard that answer. But regardless of how you interpret it, would that be a good idea? To bring Rodgers back? Yes.
I think I'm to the point, I said this to you before, that it's time to move on from that. I think ultimately they have to figure this out. And why waste more time? I think Aaron has shown that he still has the arm to do it. I know everyone in that room liked him. I mean, he made a tremendous impression on especially the younger guys. And I think that's valuable.
But I also think they have a longer-term issue to settle. And how are they going to achieve this quarterback situation moving forward? What is it going to be? If you bring back Rodgers, and if they believe that's the best answer, then fine. We'll look at it accordingly.
But if they do, what you're telling everyone else is we're not going to at all evaluate the guys we have on our roster behind him. And I think there's time for that. I really do. He spoke pretty glowingly of Will Howard. A lot of people have. Whether or not that turns into a guy who's going to be a diamond in the rough, I don't know.
A lot of people within the organization have. I don't hear people, you know, independent NFL.
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Chapter 7: How does McCarthy's coaching style compare to previous Steelers coaches?
My central talking point is about moving forward, discovering another quarterback because they have to do it. At some point, Ben Roethlisberger, I mean Aaron Rodgers, is not going to be able to play. It may be now. It may be next year. Whatever that case, they have to be in a position to figure out what's next. I am just trying to make sure that you go over every stone. Don't leave any unturned.
Figure out maybe this guy is the answer.
Would we be saying the same if it was Omar Jacobs or Brian St. Pierre or Dennis Dixon? Would we be saying, man, you've got to get a look at this guy? No, because they had Ben Roethlisberger. No, take that away. If they didn't have a quarterback right now, you'd be saying, man, I can't. Art would get up there and say to the people he's saying, the new coach is really enamored with Chris Oladokun.
He really is. Can't wait to see this guy. No, they wouldn't be saying that. It's catnip for the fans.
That's why they're saying it. Fine, say what you want. Don't you think they have an obligation to try to move forward from this position? At some point, they have to. So I want to know what the plan is. That's all. I'm thinking I'd want to make sure I know everybody on this roster under my leadership, a new coach who's a very good offensive coach.
Maybe he can use the word extract a lot because I think it's true. That's what a coach does. He extracts. You know, I remember when he was down in Dallas and Cooper Rush had to play because Dak Prescott was injured. If you look at some of them, they did a pretty good job with him there. And However you develop, you've got to develop. As a stopgap who never lasted in the NFL. I understand that.
But he did play well, and they won games. So that's what I want to find out. I want to find out. And I think at some point they're going to have to find out what that point is. Do you want to kick it down the road further? Fine. You can do that. I think Aaron Rodgers has shown that he can throw the ball. I also know what his kryptonite is.
And teams are going to try to figure that out and do what Houston did to him and what a lot of good defensive fronts can do. That's all I'm saying. And he's 43. I say that with all due respect.
Well, if you're a Will Howard believer, then what's wrong with bringing Rodgers back as the bridge quarterback to Will Howard? Because Will Howard is minus one year. He's essentially a rookie right now.
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Chapter 8: What are potential challenges McCarthy might face in his first season?
And if they do, it won't be one of the guys you probably like. They may have to wait until next year. And again, that kicks everything back a little bit.
I just don't see that as realistic. I don't.
So you want to bring back Rodgers then?
No, I don't. I don't see. I'm talking now from their perspective.
I'm not ruling that out. They may bring in a Malik Willis. They may even, even though I don't believe this for one second. the Kyler Murrays of the world, somebody out there. Maybe. Maybe. But my point is they're going to have to figure that out. That's all I'm trying to say here.
Why do they have to figure it out? Because you need a franchise quarterback. Again, we're giving Will Howard the benefit of the doubt here beyond what we would ever give another six-round pick. They've got to find out about that six-round pick who almost didn't get drafted. Would you say that if Ola Dukin were the guy here? Ola Dukin, whatever he was?
I would say that based on conversations I've had with people on that coaching staff throughout the course of the year, they were impressed with a lot of what he ā You know, just everything intellectually in the meetings, all that kind of stuff. I don't know how important that is, but if you're going to be a quarterback, it better be important.
Listen, I'd like to see the guy get a little run. I'm curious about it. It's just here we are two minutes into the show. Yesterday he becomes Mason Rudolph. Mason Rudolph just gets mentioned all the time as such an afterthought and for good reason, I think. But Will Howard just becomes this central talking point.
That's because there's no other talking points. It's either Rodgers or, to me, you're going to have to bring one of those two guys and start at this point. If they bring somebody in, then it's a different talking point. I'm just wondering what they're going to do. So am I. Aaron Rodgers, you'll get out of him what you got out of him if he stays healthy.
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