Thirteen years in Green Bay, and now Pittsburgh
Mike McCarthy coached Aaron Rodgers for 13 seasons at Lambeau. On Sunday they share a sideline again, in Pittsburgh, against Atlanta.
Rodgers is starting his 22nd NFL season. It may well be his last, and he has not hidden the fact that he engineered this. When Mike Tomlin walked away after 19 seasons, closing with a 10-7 record and an AFC North title, it was Rodgers who told the Steelers to call McCarthy.
“We’ve got a good relationship, from quarterback to play-caller,” Rodgers said. “There’s a lot of trust both ways, and I can’t wait to hear what it feels like to hear his voice again, very Pittsburghese, in my helmet.”
McCarthy grew up in Greenfield, a few miles from the stadium.
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They did not send him out there empty-handed
Pittsburgh traded for receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who should line up opposite DK Metcalf. Running back Rico Dowdle came in from Carolina after clearing 130 yards in three separate games last season, and he already knows the McCarthy playbook from their Dallas years.
One piece of business is still unfinished. The Steelers have set themselves a deadline to extend cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before the regular season kicks off. He was limited on Wednesday with a back problem.
Atlanta’s plan starts and ends with Bijan Robinson
Kevin Stefanski is beginning again too. Six seasons in Cleveland, two Coach of the Year awards, and now Tua Tagovailoa under center while Michael Penix Jr. finishes rehab on his knee.
The Falcons are built around the run. Bijan Robinson piled up 1,478 rushing yards last season, a career best, with seven touchdowns. “Now we’ve got a product, we’ve worked it,” he said. “It looks really good in practice, but it’s time to show it.” Defenses that cannot get him on the ground tend to spend the whole afternoon on the field.
Drake London and Kyle Pitts have 37 career receiving touchdowns between them. Behind them, Atlanta are betting on kids: second-rounder Avieon Terrell and fourth-rounder Kendal Daniels are projected to start.
Stefanski is already lowering the temperature. “It would be a mistake to think a rookie has it all figured out in Week 1. All these guys will be better in Week 4 than Week 1, and in Week 8 than Week 4.”
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