It’s been a rough day for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, and that’s only partially because his team is struggling against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Steelers trailed the Bucs 13-3 at halftime with their offense obviously not scoring a touchdown and also converting only 1 of 6 third-down opportunities.
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So it was time for McCarthy to get his team in the halftime locker room and rethink the game plan. That makes sense because, you know, McCarthy needed to address whatever was not working, make adjustments, and maybe yell some motivating words.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks on at a press conference announcing him as the new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach at PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium in Jan. 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Except McCarthy never made it to the halftime locker room.
While he was walking off the sideline and headed to an interview with a CBS sideline reporter, McCarthy apparently suffered some sort of leg injury. Multiple reports said McCarthy appeared to twist an ankle.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 1, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The 62-year-old coach then had another Steelers’ staffer help him off the field by serving as a bit of a human crutch.
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And then the coach went directly into the team’s blue medical tent where he spent the entire halftime period.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (right) speaks at a press conference introducing him as the next head coach of the Steelers as owner Art Rooney II (left) listens in at PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pa. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
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McCarthy returned to the sideline at the start of the second half and the club had informed CBS he is going to limp through the end of the game.
There is no word who exactly made whatever adjustments on offense the Steelers might have wanted at halftime.
McCarthy serves as both the team’s head coach and offensive play-caller.
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