Mike DeFabo
Steelers beat writer at The Athletic.
- What will Mike McCarthy’s offense look like in Pittsburgh? His old playbook holds some clues www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
- What will Mike McCarthy’s offense look like in Pittsburgh? Let's start with a few pages from his 2004 Saints playbook. How West Coast turned to Texas Coast and what it might mean for a familiar QB on the North Shore: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
- Mike McCarthy's staff continues to take shape. Brian Angelichio has been named OC, and Joe Whitt Jr. has been named assistant head coach/secondary coach. Additionally, Frank Cignetti Jr. will be Senior Offensive Assistant, per source. Here's more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
- What will Mike McCarthy’s Steelers offense look like? His old playbook holds some clues www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
- A young Mike McCarthy became a West Coast offense "believer" at Pitt, where he was two degrees of separation from Bill Walsh himself. In 2000-2004 as the OC in New Orleans, McCarthy passed out his own playbook. It featured many WCO staple concepts, including Dragon (slant/flat).
- This week on The Yinziders with @jennaharner.bsky.social: 🏈Mike McCarthy’s staff is coming together. A look at what he’s assembled. 🤠Cowboys writer Jon Machota gives us some insight into McCarthy’s five-year tenure in Dallas. 🐶 Zeke’s Super Bowl picks. Subscribe! m.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD2...
- “There’s no Pat Graham playbook,” he told The Athletic in 2024. “Yeah, there’s stuff that comes from my NE time, my time at GB. But to me, it’s all about who do you have?” Here’s more on the next Steelers DC and a malleable philosophy shaped by mentors: www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
- The Steelers are signing wide receiver A.T. Perry to a futures contract, the team announced. A two-time first-team All-ACC WR at Wake Forest, Perry was a sixth-round pick by the Saints in 2023. He's nearly 6-4 and ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the 2023 combine.
- My Alma mater, Greater Latrobe, is hosting an event called the Rockdown to benefit @bloodcancerunited.bsky.social and the school publications. I’m sharing a QR code below. I appreciate anyone who considers making a small donation to support a good cause.
- This week on The Yinziders: @jennaharner.bsky.social and I discuss what we learned at Mike McCarthy’s introductory presser. What the hire means for Aaron Rodgers and why the staff is so critical. Plus, someone stole Jenna’s parking chair! Subscribe in YouTube: m.youtube.com/watch?v=2YxL...
- It was an emotional day for Mike McCarthy, as the Pittsburgh native was introduced as the Steelers head coach:
- Mike McCarthy on if he'd like Aaron Rodgers back: "Definitely. I don't see why you wouldn't." The new Steelers head coach has already spoken with Aaron, but said that he also understands the importance of time away before the QB makes a decision: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
- Steelers owner Art Rooney II: ‘We’ve left the door open’ for Aaron Rodgers’ return www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
- Whether Aaron Rodgers returns to the Steelers in 2026 or not, the Mike McCarthy hire should be judged in one way: Can he get Pittsburgh out of this cycle of veteran Band-Aids — and fast?
- The Mike McCarthy hire has everything to do with the QB — but not necessarily the one you’re thinking of Column on how the new era should be judged: www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
- Steelers' Mike McCarthy hire has everything to do with the QB — just not the one you're thinking of Column on today's news and how this decision will (and should) ultimately be judged: www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
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- You’ve read my thoughts on the Steelers’ coaching search. Now it’s time to talk to the experts: The writers who cover them every day. Here’s a deeper dive into the candidates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
- This week on The Yinziders: The Steelers coaching search is well underway. @jennaharner.bsky.social and I take a deep dive into the candidates. Subscribe/ like/ tell your friends m.youtube.com/watch?v=saU6...
- The Steelers have completed an in-person interview with Brian Flores, their first meeting in Pittsburgh with a candidate. Next up: Mike McCarthy on Wednesday and Anthony Weaver on Friday. Follow out tracker for more. (And yes, I know this pic isn't Flores). www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- The Steelers have begun in-person interviews for their next head coach. Here's what league sources told @diannarussini.bsky.social and me. Today: Brian Flores Wednesday: Mike McCarthy Friday: Anthony Weaver They've also completed six additional virtual interviews www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- What’s next for Aaron Rodgers? A look at his potential options in 2026 and beyond. www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
- Steelers DT Cam Heyward has been named to the PFWA’s All-AFC team for the second year in a row.
- Steelers coaching search tracker: Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver set for in-person interviews, per @diannarussini.bsky.social Here's the latest, with a full scouting report on all of the known candidates: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- The Steelers are planning to meet with Mike McCarthy about their vacant HC position, league sources told The Athletic. Here's what we know about who they've talked to so far and what's to come: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- “Some of us will be here next year; some of us won’t.” Inside Mike Tomlin’s final team meeting as Steelers head coach, where there was “shock,” guilt and a standing ovation. www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
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- Just one day after Mike Tomlin stepped down, the Pittsburgh Steelers have already begun reaching out to candidates. Here are the names we know so far, with a scouting report on each one: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- Art Rooney II said that Mike Tomlin is not expected to coach again "in the near future." Plus more takeaways from the presser, including what they're looking for in next HC, some candidates on their radar and one name to cross off the list: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
- The Steelers took an aggressive — even desperate — approach by acquiring a cast of aging vets. They weren’t “all in” but pushed enough chips in to create that narrative… only to finish the same place. If not now, then when will they ever snap the drought? www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
- This week on The Yinziders with @jennaharner.bsky.social 🏈Do Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers need a playoff win to consider 2025 a successful season? @jonmalexander.bsky.social from the Houston Chronicle gives us a scouting report on the Texans. 🐶 Zeke’s Picks! m.youtube.com/watch?v=UX3C...
- What DK Metcalf’s return means for the Steelers — even when he’s not getting the ball. www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
- Step inside the Steelers locker room with me. If you can see through the cigar smoke and hear over the thumping music, there are players in every corner with statements to make. www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...
- “That’s why you go do business with a guy like Aaron — for thick days like today,” Mike Tomlin said after the win in Baltimore four weeks ago. In the biggest games, Aaron Rodgers has (largely) been at his Steelers best. Can he do it again? www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
- Last year, the Steelers saw what happens when you build a WR room with one star… a huge gap… and a lot of question marks. Then they repeated history. www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
- On the doorstep of a division title, the Steelers lost to a Browns team that entered Sunday with as many starting QBs (three) as wins. It’s hard to remember a regular-season loss with so much on the line and such an inferior opponent: www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
- The Steelers have elevated OL Jack Driscoll and DB D'Shawn Jamison from the practice squad to the active roster. Jamison is a prime candidate to start at nickel with Brandin Echols out. Driscoll is OL depth.
- Steelers OLB T.J. Watt returns to practice for first time since suffering partially collapsed lung www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
- DK Metcalf has been suspended two games by the NFL for his role in an altercation with a fan at Ford Field on Sunday. Here's more on the conflicting reports about what provoked Metcalf and what comes next: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...