Mike McCarthy knew the Pittsburgh Steelers’ history of hiring young head coaches, making him think his job chances maybe passed him by.

Chuck Noll was 37 when the Steelers hired him, while Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were 34. And unlike those first-time head coaches, McCarthy, who turned 62 in November, has a long NFL resume. But in hindsight, McCarthy described his homecoming as “meant to be.”

“I never in my wildest dreams thought that Mike Tomlin would retire,” McCarthy said Friday on “Wilde and Tausch” of ESPN Wisconsin radio. “And this was an opportunity based off of history that I thought was well past me. So, when it did come available, in the conversations that led up to the interview, I just felt like this was something that was meant to be.”

McCarthy said he’d talked with other franchises about job openings since his five-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys ended after 2024. He and his family enjoyed their life outside of football, but the Greenfield native credited his wife for encouraging him to keep coaching — if that’s what he wanted.

“Obviously, Jessica and I had plenty of time to talk about what’s next,” McCarthy said. “Definitely super comfortable in our life in Green Bay. We love it there. That’s our home. Four of our five kids were born there. That part will never change.

“She kind of hit me between the eyes,” he added. “She just said, ‘Hey, if you want to do this, it’s great. Obviously, we’re in full support. But you’re not getting any younger.’”

McCarthy interviewed Jan. 21 and got hired three days later.

His three predecessors all coached the Steelers for at least 15 years, with Noll lasting 23. McCarthy was asked Friday about his potential career longevity.

“I’m just going to go with the dog-years mindset and maybe look into some anti-aging supplements or something,” McCarthy said lightheartedly. “No. I’m loving it. And trust me, I’ve got more than enough energy to go as long as the good Lord wants me to.”

McCarthy shared with Wisconsin listeners his love for Green Bay but also his appreciation for being back in his hometown. He said his older children had more familiarity with Pittsburgh, but his younger ones were experiencing the city for the first time.

He marveled at how he can look across the Monongahela River from his Steelers office and see Greenfield.

“That part is surreal,” he said, “Just to drive down Greenfield Avenue onto Second Avenue and cross the Hot Metal Bridge to work every day. These are the streets that I grew up on.”

McCarthy said he isn’t sleeping in his childhood bedroom nowadays, especially since his parents moved out of that house. But he said he has enjoyed being closer to them.

“The first week, they were getting up and having coffee with me,” he said. “Then 5 o’clock or 5:30 becomes a little challenging for them, but we have tea every night. I’ve never drunk this much tea in my life.

“It’s really nice to be able to spend that time with them. I went to church with them last week. Things you only got to do periodically in the past, you get to do it every day.”

He said his parents are also learning what his life is like as an NFL head coach. He said they were surprised when he walked in the door after 10 p.m.

“They’re like, ‘Where the hell have you been?’” McCarthy said with a laugh. “Where have I been? I’ve been doing this for 30-plus years. And they’re like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you work that late.’”

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