'Tempered Steel': Inside Mike McCarthy's New Camp Culture in Pittsburgh
The Steelers' first-year coach has banned tackling to the ground in camp, pulled the benches off the practice field, and built a six-pillar teaching framework to replace the old-school two-a-day grind.
Mike McCarthy has built his first Pittsburgh Steelers training camp around "Tempered Steel," a mantra printed on shirts across the building that borrows from the literal steel-tempering process: controlled heat and cooling that hardens metal without making it brittle. The idea, in football terms, is to build toughness without breaking players down the old way. "I'd go to jail today if I tried to do that," McCarthy said of the two-a-day camps he once ran.
What actually changed on the practice field?
The most visible shift: no tackling to the ground during camp, even in pads. Defenders "thud up" instead, wrapping up the ball carrier without finishing the takedown. "It's a risk-assessment decision," McCarthy said. He's also removed the metal benches and bleachers that used to line the practice fields, shifted practice to an 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. window instead of Mike Tomlin's preferred midafternoon slot, and moved minicamp up to June.
How are players responding to the culture shift?
Reactions have been mixed but largely open-minded. T.J. Watt said, "You don't see benches out here anymore... We're just doing things much different than what I'm used to over the last nine years." Cam Heyward, contrasting it with the Tomlin era's more physical camps, said, "It's an alpha sport. And [we'd] just ramp it up... It's a different challenge. I've just tried to be open to it." Jaylen Warren pushed back on any notion the team has gotten soft: "We got dogs on the team. The competition is what leads to that. I don't mind that at all."
What's the teaching framework behind it?
McCarthy has organized fundamentals around what's being called the "Steelers Six": tackling and breaking tackles, ball security, blocking, big plays, finish and pursuit, and mannerisms. He's also compressed installation, saying, "In my opinion, you can really install everything you need in eight installations," using the extra time freed up to develop younger players. Linebacker Payton Wilson offered a simple summary of the trade-off: "Obviously, I love to tackle. It's been great in the past to get that in before the first preseason game, but that's what preseason games are for."
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: 'Tempered': Inside Mike McCarthy's new vision for Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers betting odds
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
FanDuel Sportsbook: New-customer welcome offer. New customers only. First online real-money wager only. Any bonus is issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire; eligibility and restrictions apply. See the current offer and full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
21+ and present in select states. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Fanatics Sportsbook: Up to $1,000 in FanCash Matched Bets. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY. Apply the promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting the day of account creation. FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash per day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
21+ and present in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook operates. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Touchdown Week may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. Please bet responsibly.
