https://steelersdepot.com/2026/08/after-tomlins-training-camps-beat-writer-says-steelers-will-see-the-dividends-from-mccarthys-changes/
The Pittsburgh Steelers already look different under new head coach Mike McCarthy. When a head coach of two decades departs along with nearly his entire coaching staff, that much change can certainly be a jolt.
One of the more notable differences is the lack of live tackling in training camp. The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo thinks that change will work out for the Steelers in the long run.
“Even though he’s advanced in his career and he’s established, he continues to look at the trends. And the reason he’s not tackling is because he doesn’t want guys to get injured. And you look at Tomlin’s teams, routinely they fell apart near the end of the season,” DeFabo said this week on FS1’s The Herd. “I think at the end of the season, when the team is healthy, the team is fresh, you’re gonna see the dividends that are paid right here.”
Mike Tomlin did a lot of things right, never having a losing season throughout 19 years. But there is something to be said about the way his teams fell apart down the stretch. 2025 isn’t the best example, but 2024 is. Pittsburgh was soaring at 10-3 that season before losing the last four regular-season games and getting easily dispatched in the Wild Card round.
Keeping players healthy in training camp is hard to argue with. It’s something McCarthy has done before his time with the Steelers, and for what it’s worth, his players go to bat for the idea. Rico Dowdle, who played under McCarthy in Dallas, mentioned this week that his camps are very similar. Dowdle thought the lack of live tackling would benefit the team and make it healthier down the stretch.
That’s the goal. But the Steelers have suffered a couple of minor injuries in camp. Max Iheanachor tweaked his shoulder and is expected to return sometime this coming week. Brandin Echols was seen in a boot on Saturday. The training staff looked at a couple of other players throughout the rest of Saturday’s practice.
Knock on wood, but the Steelers have avoided any serious injuries in training camp so far. There’s still a little more than a week and three preseason games to go. But for the most part, Pittsburgh is on track to enter the season with a mostly healthy roster. DeFabo expects things to remain that way for the Steelers and credits McCarthy for the change.
