Mike McCarthy returns to Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2026, to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers. The matchup features quarterback questions, rookie debuts, and a veteran head coach facing the franchise where he won a Super Bowl.
Mike McCarthy Faces His Past as Steelers Host Packers
The coaching career of Mike McCarthy comes full circle on Thursday night as the Pittsburgh native leads the Pittsburgh Steelers onto the field at Acrisure Stadium for their opening preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy spent 2006 through 2018 coaching the Packers, guiding the organization to its fourth Super Bowl title. That championship run earned him a namesake street, Mike McCarthy Way, running alongside Ray Nitschke Field near Green Bay’s training facility.
Despite the deep history, McCarthy deflected sentimentality ahead of kickoff when speaking with the Post-Gazette regarding his current squad’s training camp mistakes.
“Our history there is obviously long and the success we had there,” McCarthy said on Tuesday. “You get to spots like this, the personal relationships or the people you think about, … the professional connection to Green Bay, that’s part of my life. But I’m more worried about our pre-snap penalties right now, to be honest with you.”
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach, via Post-Gazette
McCarthy takes over a franchise valued at $8.7 billion following the January departure of Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after 19 seasons (CBS News). On the opposing sideline, Green Bay opens its exhibition schedule under head coach Matt LaFleur (Packersnews).
Aaron Rodgers and the Quarterback Situation
All eyes in Pittsburgh center on the quarterback position. Rodgers has already stated that the 2026 campaign will be his final NFL season.
Behind the veteran starter, young backups Will Howard and Drew Allar are slated for significant playing time alongside veteran backup Mason Rudolph (CBS News). Howard, a Pennsylvania native who led Ohio State to a national title, missed last year’s preseason due to a hand injury. Allar joins him after appearing in just six games over the past 19 months due to an ankle injury sustained during Penn State’s 2025 season (Triblive).
Reflecting on the psychological weight of a debut, Rodgers offered perspective to Triblive regarding his own rookie preseason back in 2005.
“It was my Super Bowl, for sure,” Rodgers said. “Man, it was super important.”
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, via Triblive
Rookies and Wide Receiver Battles to Watch
With starters DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. expected to sit out due to recent injuries (Post-Gazette), younger pass-catchers face an immediate trial by fire. Third-year wide receiver Roman Wilson has built strong practice chemistry with Rodgers, separating himself in the race for the No. 3 receiver role ahead of rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard (Post-Gazette).
Rodgers noted that rookie receiver struggles are largely mental rather than physical (Post-Gazette).
“I think it’s 90% mental,” Rodgers said. “I think even the fastest, most athletic guys, if you don’t know what you’re doing completely, you’re going to play slower.”
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, via Post-Gazette
The Steelers also feature 17 other rookies making their unofficial debuts, though first-round pick Max Iheanachor will miss the contest due to a shoulder and neck injury (Triblive).
Packers Rookies and Defensive Line Shifts
On the Green Bay side, rookie kicker Trey Smack faces an immediate test at Acrisure Stadium. According to Packersnews, the venue’s south-end river confluence creates notoriously unpredictable wind patterns that limited opposing kickers to a 77% success rate last season.
Defensively, free-agent addition Benjamin St-Juste has taken first-team reps ahead of Keisean Nixon during camp (Packersnews). Meanwhile, in Jonathan Gannon’s defense, pass rushers continue battling for snaps opposite Lukas Van Ness while Micah Parsons remains sidelined by injury (Packersnews).
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