Anytime an NFL team undergoes a regime change, the first question is often the same: How long will it take for everything to come together? Sometimes, teams gel quickly and usher in a successful new era. Other times, the transition proves much more difficult. The Pittsburgh Steelers face that same question, and local insider Mark Kaboly recently addressed it. Appearing on 93.7 The Fan, Kaboly said his biggest concern is whether Mike McCarthy's team will get off to a slow start. After all, an early stumble could create frustration among veterans accustomed to the previous regime.
“If they can get everything in order in time, just a whole new staff, whole new system. Can they get everybody on the same page [by] September 13?” Kaboly said. “I’m worried about a slow start because they just don’t have enough time to get up to speed.”
Kaboly's concern is a valid one. Every fan base has asked the same question when a new coaching staff takes over. However, a few trends from McCarthy's coaching career could ease the concerns of both Steelers fans and Kaboly.
McCarthy's record in September
Throughout his head coaching career, McCarthy has compiled a 38-22 record in September. He went 29-13 with the Green Bay Packers and 9-7 with the Dallas Cowboys. While his teams started faster during his Packers tenure, his Cowboys teams still posted a winning record in the opening month. One potential concern, however, is that McCarthy's first seasons with both franchises produced a combined 2-4 September record. That's hardly an encouraging precedent heading into 2026.
The 2006 Packers opened McCarthy's first season as a head coach with a 1-2 start and ultimately finished 8-8, missing the playoffs. His first Cowboys team in 2020 also started 1-2 before finishing 6-10. That season came with significant challenges, including Dak Prescott's season-ending injury early in the year and a defense that ranked among the league's worst.
Kaboly's concern is understandable. Even so, McCarthy's teams have historically performed well in September, suggesting slow starts have been the exception rather than the rule.
This isn't McCarthy's first rodeo
The good news for Pittsburgh is that McCarthy has navigated transitions before. That doesn't mean this regime change will be easy, but experience should help. McCarthy will receive a warm welcome in his hometown, but that goodwill will fade quickly if the results don't follow. Unlike the Packers and Cowboys when he took over, the Steelers are already an established playoff team. They have reached the postseason in each of the past three seasons, finishing 10-7 every year.
It's certainly possible the Steelers experience some growing pains during the transition. However, McCarthy's track record and confidence in his coaching staff provide legitimate reasons for optimism. It also helps that he is once again paired with the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, that he coached for 13 seasons.
Between those factors and McCarthy's historical success in September, Pittsburgh has reason to believe it can avoid a sluggish start. The Atlanta Falcons' defense will provide an immediate challenge in Week 1, followed by a road trip to face the defending AFC champions.
