Steelers coach Mike McCarthy heads to Paris after ankle scare
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy limped into a halftime medical tent, then returned to call plays in a 26-19 overtime win at Tampa Bay.
Pittsburgh is 4-2 and now plays the NFL's first Paris game against the Saints.
Background
Mike McCarthy, 62, is in his first season as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach after 18 prior seasons leading the Packers and Cowboys. On Oct 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, he limped off the field before halftime with an ankle injury and spent halftime in the sideline medical tent while the Steelers trailed 13-3. He returned still limping and kept calling offensive plays as Pittsburgh rallied to a 26-19 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers are 4-2 and tied atop the AFC North, and next travel to Paris for the NFL's first game there.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026McCarthy limped off with an ankle injury and spent halftime in the sideline medical tent as the Steelers trailed the Buccaneers 13-3 in Tampa.
- Oct 18, 2026He returned to the sideline still limping and resumed calling offensive plays; Pittsburgh won 26-19 in overtime. No diagnosis had been announced that evening.
- Oct 19, 2026McCarthy said his foot was stepped on and joked about the injury tent: "I don't recommend it. It's really hot in there." He confirmed the team flies to Paris after Thursday practice.
- Oct 20, 2026CBS Sports' Garrett Podell ranked McCarthy fourth with a B- grade among first-year head coaches.
- Oct 21, 2026McCarthy recalled the 1994 and 1998 American Bowl exhibitions in Tokyo and said the goal is "to go over there and come back 5-2."
- Oct 22, 2026McCarthy is set to face a former assistant when the Steelers play the Saints in Paris.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- CBS Sports' Garrett Podell graded McCarthy a B- and wrote that his offense "has added more life this season to the Steelers' attack," noting Pittsburgh averaged 28.5 points per game since Week 3 after 11.5 through the first two weeks.
- Coach
- McCarthy downplayed the ankle issue and framed the Paris trip as a challenge, saying a seven-day schedule for an international game is something he has never done.