Nineteen seasons. That's how long Mike Tomlin held the reins in Pittsburgh, an absolutely wild run that wrapped up after the 2025 season. It was the longest head coach tenure in *all* major American sports, which is just insane to think about. But according to Steelers tight end JJ Galbreath, that historic era ended with some pretty intense vibes last year.
The QB Carousel Blues
Galbreath straight up said on The Banner Show, as reported by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot, "I felt like there was a tension in the air being around Mike Tomlin" during that 2025 season. And honestly, can you blame anyone for feeling it? The last half-decade saw pressure on Tomlin and the Steelers skyrocket. After Ben Roethlisberger retired, it was a complete quarterback merry-go-round. Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers all started games for Pittsburgh in just the last three seasons. That kind of constant change, coupled with a definite lack of playoff success, surely cranked up the heat. If Rodgers can just make it through training camp unscathed this year, he'd be the first repeat Week 1 starter since Roethlisberger back in 2020 and 2021. Think about that for a second.A Breath of Fresh Air?
Now, with Mike McCarthy at the helm, Galbreath is saying things feel different. Like, a lot different. He's talking about a "bit more calmness" surrounding the current regime. He even dropped this gem: "[This year], we had our voluntary veteran camp, and that was supposed to be three days. We got two days of good work and [the coaches] were like, ‘We’re good. You guys can have the rest of the week of. We got good work in.‘" Imagine that! Getting work done efficiently and then getting time off. That's a stark contrast to what he described before. McCarthy and the Steelers are set to report to training camp on July 28, with their first practice kicking off at St. Vincent College on July 29. It'll be fascinating to see if that newfound calmness translates onto the field for a fresh start.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.