Four Mike McCarthy Training Camp Changes Steelers Fans are Eager to see

The Pittsburgh Steelers will report to Saint Vincent College for training camp under the hot Latrobe sun in roughly three weeks. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Mike Tomlin will not lead the team onto Chuck Noll Field. Instead, head coach Mike McCarthy will usher in a new era of Steelers football. Change has defined this offseason and, if anything, has created a renewed sense of excitement among fans. What will be different? How will those changes affect expectations? Most importantly, is this team ready to compete in the playoffs?

Training camp alone won't answer those questions, but the process will begin in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. There are plenty of storylines for fans to follow throughout camp. With so many changes, new faces, and reset expectations, this shapes up to be one of the Steelers' most anticipated training camps in years.

Here are four things Steelers fans should be eager to watch when the team reports to Saint Vincent College.

Young Steelers quarterbacks at work

McCarthy isn't just tasked with getting the Steelers offense to operate at a high level. He's also expected to develop the franchise's next quarterback. Will Howard and Drew Allar are the two young passers under McCarthy's quarterback-development microscope. Both, however, have a long road ahead before they're ready to start regular-season games.

That won't stop fans from closely monitoring their progress. Allar, in particular, is one of the most intriguing players on the roster. The former Penn State standout possesses all the physical tools needed to succeed in the NFL, but he still needs significant development before he's ready to contribute. Howard, meanwhile, has reportedly earned elevated reps and could find himself in a heated loser-goes-home battle with Mason Rudolph for the QB2 job.

Patrick Graham's Steelers defense

Patrick Graham brings plenty of intrigue and mystery to the Steelers' defense. The unit features an abundance of talent and veteran experience, making it arguably the most talented defense he has coached during his career. At the same time, it's coming off a disappointing 2025 season.

Graham has built a reputation for maximizing his personnel while tailoring his scheme to fit his players. Fans probably won't see many of his extensive schematic wrinkles during training camp, but they could notice subtle changes in personnel usage or alignments that provide optimism for the 2026 season.

Which Tomlin traditions stay and which go?

From the home run derby to Seven Shots, several long-standing training camp traditions could look different under McCarthy. Fans can still expect to see the usual red-zone drills, two-minute situations, and backs-on-backers periods. However, it will be interesting to see which drills McCarthy emphasizes and whether he introduces new competitive periods.

Several of these traditions became staples of the Tomlin era. Seven Shots, for example, evolved into one of training camp's signature drills. Will McCarthy put his own spin on team competitions? That's one of the more intriguing storylines heading into camp.

A new-look Steelers offense?

If Aaron Rodgers checks his first pass down into the flat, the crowd might immediately groan.

In all seriousness, Steelers fans will be eager to see McCarthy's version of the vertical West Coast offense attack downfield, especially early in camp. If anything can energize Steelers Nation, it's pairing a dominant defense with a competent offense.

The emphasis is on competent. Many national analysts believe Rodgers will operate almost exclusively in a quick-game, checkdown-heavy offense. McCarthy's track record suggests otherwise. His offenses have always incorporated quick-game concepts, but they've also consistently attacked defenses vertically. Fans should expect a much more balanced passing attack than what they saw under the previous coaching staff, with a wider variety of concepts.