The Pomp And Joe Show
Mark Kaboly thinks Mike McCarthy is current favorite for Steelers head coach
21 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The show took a decided turn with the Mendoza, Will Howard conversation. It spilled into the hallway with our bosses, with Mark Caballi, with Paul Alexander. And suddenly it dawned on me. Now we've already addressed this today. And the big boy is sitting across from me, Mark Caballi of the Pat McAfee show with an unbelievable hat on iron city beer. And what does your sweatshirt say?
Jaguars baseball, TJ, right? There you go, brother. There you go. Um, Andy Weidel, if this guy leaves the building and goes to Atlanta, who's the football guy? Who's the football guy at the head of the operation, big boy? Well, I think right now that would happen. First of all, I don't want to anticipate that happening. Why?
I think it's honestly more of a next year type of conversation than this year. Because why? He wants more opportunity? No, I mean, this is his first real interview, right? I don't know. Normally, that does not happen that way. I would not anticipate that happening. Of course it could, but I wouldn't anticipate him leaving. Next year, there would be a prime time for him to leave.
His contract may be up. I'm not 100% sure on that. But they got a couple other guys. I mean, I think Mark Sadowski, he's a guy. There's guys right beneath him that are ā Yeah, but it's worrisome.
Chapter 2: What recent developments are there regarding Andy Weidl's potential move to Atlanta?
No ball. It's worrisome. Who's the football point man if he's gone? It would probably be one of the guys right below him. Sadowski's pretty knowledgeable and pretty around. But you don't want to lose Andy White. But what are you going to do? Who's steering the ship here, big boy? But what are you going to do, though? I don't know. I don't know what you're going to do.
What I'm saying is you can't just say, Andy, you can't go to Atlanta. Oh, no, you can't do that. Of course. But do you trust Omar and Art to get the right guy here before we talk about who you think the right guy is? Do you trust the captains of the ship here? Yeah, because I think Omar is smart enough to know his shortcomings. Why do you think Andy White was here?
Andy White was here because he knew he wasn't the best in personnel guy, best in picking out, so to speak, the draft guys, you know? Stuff like that. So he brought in a guy like that. That was part of his hiring. Hey, you hire me as GM. I want to bring this guy to be my right-hand man to help me on my shortcomings. So I think Omar is very good at that. Delegating things.
Delegating things, overseeing things. And I think he has a different view on the NFL than, say, Art Rooney, which is not bad. Right. I like that part of it. Can he identify the right football coach? What I'm saying is I think Andy, I think other guys are involved in this. Okay, but what if Andy does leave?
Well, you would imagine that would not hurt this hire because that would be done already, I would think. I mean, Atlanta just started this process, and I think you're looking at seven or eight candidates there. I don't think they're quite quickly you're going to. But a lot of the work has already been done in preparation for the draft. Oh, the draft has been done. Right.
So then it's a matter of ā and they do have a bunch of people under Andy who work closely with Andy who can come up with whatever conclusions they need to make.
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Chapter 3: Who might be the next football leader if Andy Weidl leaves?
Yeah, Danny Colbert. He's a guy that's ā rose his way up through the ranks as well. There's a lot of those guys that they've put together. I mean, the combine, all this stuff now moving forward is just basically getting to know the people maybe that you need a second look at. They pretty much know what they're getting in the draft right now. Now, Future years are different.
I mean, I don't think ā I mean, what has Omar had, 23, 24, three drafts now? I mean, if you're going to grade his drafts, put it better. Their last three under Omar has been better than Kevin Colbert's final three. I attribute the drafts to Mike Tomlin more than anybody, good and bad, and mostly bad. But yeah, what you say is fair. But let's not bury the lead here.
Mark Cabaly brought to you by Keystone Custom Apparel, the region's premier spirit wear and sports uniform provider. Let's not bury the lead, Bob. Mark Cabaly has a very educated opinion on the Mike McCarthy situation. He seems to know something. He's giving me that wink wink as I'm talking to him in the hallway. Is Mike McCarthy going to be their next coach? I wouldn't be shocked if he was.
Is he your betting favorite? Right now, I would say yes. First of all, I think they're going to be extremely patient with this. They're going to let the entire process play out, and if that means you have to wait until a week from now or a week and a half from now. Is he on anyone else's list right now? That's the thing. He could wait as long as he wants, I imagine, right?
Are there other coaches who have other interviews? Yeah, right now. But, you know, anybody could pop up at any time. No, exactly. But I haven't seen anyone other than the Steelers interested in bringing in Mike McCarthy. Is that correct? He was with Tennessee until he pulled his name out. Yeah, he pulled his name. When they found out they were going to go Robert Sala, then he ā
it's funny how that is mike mcdaniel pulled his name out of cleveland too when he knew he wasn't going to get the job let's talk about mccarthy why why do you think this who's the person who's at the forefront of of that pursuit i think all that i think they've come to the realization now that they're going to have to develop a quarterback draft and or develop a quarterback right
They know there's no other way around it. You can't just keep playing this patchwork game. You can't just keep bringing in veterans. You can't just be sitting there waiting for somebody. So they're assuming that Mike McCarver, you know, assuming he is by far the best candidate in terms of developing quarterbacks. So use him for four or five years.
If it's a quarterback this year, if it's next year, if it's Will Howard Mendoza, right? Right, Pump? Yeah. Will Howard Mendoza. He's on the roster. Whoever it is, you use him. Because you look at McCarthy's record. I mean, he did wonders for Dak. Obviously Aaron Rodgers. But before that, you remember Aaron Brooks in New Orleans? He came out of nowhere.
Had four good years in New Orleans when McCarthy was the GM there. Not the GM, the offensive coordinator. You go back a little bit even further than that to the Kansas City days. He had a year with Alex Smith. So he's had a history of being able to develop quarterbacks wherever he's been able to go. So to me, I think that is what pushes you over the top right now.
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Chapter 4: Why is Mike McCarthy considered a top candidate for the Steelers head coach position?
This is the owner of the team. Somebody's asked about Keon Coleman, who they made a first-round pick, I think, last year, and who's been an unmitigated disaster. And Brandon Bean, the GM, jumps in to answer the question. The owner, this happened like an hour ago, the owner jumps over him and talks about a guy who's still only his third year, who's active on the team right now.
Take a listen to this, Pagoula jumping over Brandon Bean. Can I interrupt? I'll address the Keon situation. The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I'm not saying Brandon wouldn't have drafted him, but he wasn't his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player.
He's taken, for some reason, heat over it and not saying a word about it. I'm here to tell you the true story. Gee, I wonder why he's taking heat over it. Maybe because he's the GM? He's the GM, right. By the way, how's Keon Coleman come back after that? That's what I thought, too. If I'm Keon Coleman, I'm saying, wait a minute. That's like Jimmy Haslam.
I've got to go work for these guys, and this is how they look at me. Right. With Deshaun Watson still on the team in Cleveland, Haslam said we took a big swing and missed on the quarterback. He might still be their quarterback. crazy. What a disaster.
But the fact that if he truly said that, which he did, it's in quotes here from a Buffalo News reporter who was there, that he made a decision based on the Denver game. That's no way. That had to be It can't be just that because if that's the case, you would have known that Josh Allen had everything to do with that loss. I mean, Joe, you're the Buffalo guy.
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Chapter 5: What factors influence the Steelers' decision-making process for a new head coach?
Don't you say, well, we can't continuously going down this path and blow Josh Allen's career and not have a chance to win. Don't you say that rather than, yeah, we just lost this game. Right, right. And here's the thing in the context of our conversation that we're having.
Is you walk into Buffalo, you do get that guy, you get Superman, but you also get that guy that we just heard owning the team and the GM who got a promotion. That's not a very good roster. So while I still think it's the best job, I'm not sure if it's a winning formula if you walk in there. I'm not sure with that GM and that owner.
Do you think the new stadium has anything to do with wanting to change the leadership? Maybe. Probably. I think that's what was going on in Cleveland a little bit too. Sure, but he miscalculated in that they're going to have pitchforks at the old stadium today about Brandon Bean. About what are you doing keeping the GM? Oh, they're promoting him.
and promoting him yes so i don't know man maybe this is maybe this is why maybe this will be a better situation yeah right exactly how about speaking of cleveland that stefanski uh tweet that got under the uh skin of baker mayfield who responded in kind by saying oh this guy hasn't sent me one word not even a text when they got rid of me and he treated me like garbage
I mean, that's Baker Mayfield coming right out, and I forget what the quote tweeted, whatever it was. Yeah, I think it was somebody from the Atlanta newspaper said something. The failure of Baker Mayfield. Right. He's like, whoa, hold on here. Bob, my friend Dan from Sewickley said he's going to invite me to play golf. I just thought I'd interject that. Where are you going to go on this day?
It's minus two. Why don't you go on Sunday? Why don't you go on Sunday? Yeah, snow golf. Get some colorful balls and let's see what happens. Whoa. Easy, Bob. What? What? I can't wait until golf season. Can you? Hey, all I know is until you get there, there are some great facilities. My favorite is Nine Yards Golf Lounge. They have the new technology. Invite me and I'll go. Okay, we will.
Tomorrow night. You're going to have a fun time. There's a lot of food, drink, have some fun, hit some golf balls, and some of the best courses you will play. You ever played golf, big boy? I played golf a lot. You did? Back in my younger days, probably... I haven't golfed in probably 10 years now. You have definitely golfed. Is it Grandview? What's the course up there?
I mean, I was a big Cedarbrook guy. Not Cedarbrook, yes. Cedarbrook. Oh, 36. I had my low round on Cedarbrook. Which was? The front red. I shot a 41. I had a 34 going into the ninth hole. Wow. And choked. I got like a seven on the ninth hole. We got to get out and go. Oh, not anymore. Come on now. That's pretty good. I was just killing. That and Chippewa out in Lake Bentleyville.
You been there, Bob? In Bentleyville. Bentleyville. I never heard of that course. I've been through Bentleyville. Oh, come on. I used to have a dentist in Chippewa, but that's beside the point here. Do you like that stuff you see on ESPN now where they're having pros, all the best names, play that simulated golf? What is it called, the T? No, I'm not interested in that. Are you?
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Chapter 6: How does the Steelers' coaching search compare to other teams?
What about Jesse Minter? I think he's out. Really? He's got second interviews all over the place. Why is he out? I just got a sense that they weren't interested in him. I don't know if I really know anything more specific. This is fascinating with the big boy, is it not, Bob? Yeah, it's one of those things. He's basically ruled out Minter, Avero, and Clint Kubiak. All the Kubiaks.
Every Kubiak's name. All right. Even Clay. You don't like him. Clay. Clinton didn't even get a... He can't interview yet. That's what DeFabo said. Well, he could have. They could have done a virtual one. Virtual. How about Sheilhaus? There's varying opinions if you talk to people about him.
People love him, the next Sean McVay guy, and some other people call him a glorified offensive assistant that hasn't really done anything yet. Yeah, but he's young enough, and if McVay trusts him with developing a passing game, that says something, doesn't it? Yeah, I'm guessing that Sean McVay might have his fingers in on that too, though, right?
Maybe, but I'm sure he has a lot of things to worry about as a head coach. He might eventually be the best out of the bunch, but I don't know if you want to go down that route right now. Could you get Shula and Sheilhaus as a package? I would love that. That would be the ultimate thing right there, right? That would be interesting, Bob. Just like the Flores-McCarthy duo would be great, too.
I'm just telling you, I think people got to keep a mind open with the McCarthy thing just for the fact that if part of the reason or a large part of the reason would be is his ability to make Will Howard into a decent quarterback, make Ty Simpson, whoever they might get this year. Do you think they'll draft someone this year? I don't think so. I don't think so either, the way it's falling out.
So who's he here to develop then? Well, whoever they're going to get here. Will Howard? How about Mason Rudolph? Ben never mentioned Mason. Does that shock you? Did you hear the Ben clip? I'm just curious. Don't you think he may be one of those guys with a new beginning of somebody who they can extract something out of? It's well documented that those two don't get along.
What I'm saying is if you're going to drop Marcus Mariota and Carson Wentz, which may or may not be two guys that were in the same agents as Ben, may or may not. I know Carson Wentz was. And not mention Mason Rudolph, who is that same guy. I know. Well, let's play for Mr. P. Do you have that clip for Kabaly? Let's play Ben from his show, Footballin'.
First, he says Rodgers would be fine to come back, but this would be his next choice.
How dare he call me Mr. P, Mark? I don't think it hurts to try and bring Aaron back. If you can, if he wants to, for another year, for the reason of helping Will Howard To grow for another year. If Aaron is like, I'm out of it, I'm done. So that's scenario one. If Aaron is back, then I have no problem with Aaron coming back and helping Will Howard for another year.
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Chapter 7: What impact could Aaron Rodgers have on the Steelers' coaching decision?
Will Howard thoughts.
Hmm.
I'm surprised he didn't mention himself. He can come back. He's still young enough, right? If Rodgers is going to be 43. Bob wants, and I do too, kind of, I want to see Will Howard get something of a shot. And if it goes poorly, all the better. They'll go 6-11 and get their quarterback the next year.
You'll either find out, man, we've got something to work with here, or you'll find out you've got to draft somebody. Well, you might find that out during preseason, during training camp, that maybe this guy's just not ready yet or whatever. It was never going to be ready, too. So, I mean, we didn't even get much of that at all.
No, but training camp, I don't know if you ā I'm sure you have, but I talked to some coaches up there who really were impressed with what he was doing at St. Vincent College. And we're looking forward to him in the preseason. Yeah. I mean, you can't deny what he did his final year at Ohio State. You can't deny what he did in big games winning that national championship.
So, I mean, he's definitely a guy you have to love. But, I mean, I think if you bring back Aaron Rodgers, I think in part that you're appeasing some veterans. Yeah, I'm done with appeasing veterans around here. If it's not McCarthy, would he consider coming back whomever the next head coach is? Rodgers, I'm talking. I don't think so, no. Why would he? Why would he want to deal with that?
Well, because he got a taste of what he was looking for in that game against Baltimore. It could go really wrong here for Aaron Rodgers if he comes back and that he'd be remembered as the guy that, you know. Stayed too long. So at least he's going out with someone. If Tomlin had remained, do you think he would have come back? I think he definitely would have come back. All right.
Mark Caballi here in studio for the entire hour. I want to ask him about Tomlin's future coming up next. Fan Twitter brought to you by South Hills Kia Peters Township. Visit them at SouthHillsKia.net. Vacations begin here at the Pittsburgh Travel Showcase presented by AAA Travel. January 23rd through the 25th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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