Dan Orlovsky warns Steelers about Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers pairing, 'accepting mediocrity'

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to be their next head coach. During an appearance on First Take, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky gave McCarthy a word of caution.

“Just don’t bring Aaron Rodgers in. That’s my thing with Pittsburgh,” Orlovsky said. “I know how this would end if Mike McCarthy’s paired up with Aaron. He’s a good coach. All-time great quarterback, still playing at a good level. They’ll be 10-7. We would fast forward to 2027 of January, and we’d have the same conversation. What’s next for Pittsburgh?

“If you pair him with a young quarterback, or if you want to tell me that it’s Will Howard, OK. But, if you’re going to say to me Pittsburgh that we just want to put the band aid on the feeling of the funeral in the locker room, and we’re just going to get Mike McCarthy and Aaron together, I think that’s a catastrophic mistake in Pittsburgh because you are now accepting mediocrity.

“Take it from me. I played on most organizations that [accepted mediocrity]. They would strive for it. [The Steelers] were a standard, okay? Like they were a standard. And if they do that, that tells me that they’re comfortable being like everybody else.”

Rodgers hasn’t yet announced whether he’ll be playing next season. Before the 2025-26 season started, Rodgers hinted that it would be his last. However, Rodgers has not made an official decision and reportedly wanted time to consider his options.

McCarthy was Rodgers’ head coach in Green Bay from 2006-18. The pair won a Super Bowl together in 2011. Additionally, after Pittsburgh’s season-ending loss, many Steelers players expressed that they’d like Rodgers to return to the team next season.

Despite Rodgers’ age, he had a solid season. He completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, compared to seven interceptions.

Rodgers’ connection to McCarthy could entice him to return to Pittsburgh for another run. Of course, there’s no guarantee that another season would end in success.

McCarthy didn’t coach in the 2025-26 season after being fired from the Dallas Cowboys after the 2024-25 campaign. In five seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach, McCarthy posted a 49-35 overall record and reached the playoffs three times.

As of this report, Rodgers has not provided a timeline for when he intends to decide whether he’ll play again next season. The Steelers’ backup quarterbacks this past season were Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard.