Club Shay Shay: Deebo & Joe React to Steelers Hiring Mike McCarthy!? + Seahawks & Patriots Advance to SB LX

Host: iHeartPodcasts and Shay Shay Media
Guests: Debo Harrison & Joe Haden
Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, retired NFL stars Debo Harrison and Joe Haden give their unfiltered reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ surprising hire of Mike McCarthy as head coach and break down the two Conference Championship games: Patriots vs. Broncos and Seahawks vs. Rams. The duo blend humor, deep football analysis, and insider perspective, keeping it real about coaching hires, team culture, and pivotal playoff moments.

Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy: Shock, Disappointment & Analysis

Segment Start: [04:44]

Initial Reactions to McCarthy’s Hiring

• Joe Haden describes his mixed feelings:

  • "Let me preface my comments by first saying I don't think Mike McCarthy's a bad coach... But in the particular situation of the Pittsburgh Steelers and what we're looking to do... it being a new time... I'm like, okay, he was with A Rod back in Green Bay, long time ago... He still came up with one Super Bowl in Aaron Rodgers heyday... So now... if we're wanting to have him come in and do it with a young quarterback... I'm not knocking the coaching situation, but if you're the Steelers... I'm wanting to come with a younger guy that's coming to bring a whole different vibe." [05:22]
  • "It just looks like status quo. He just seems like he just doesn't want to shake the boat too much. When I think right now was the time, it was time to shake the boat." [06:39]

• Debo Harrison echoes the mixed reaction:

  • "I'm disappointed. I'm not gonna put this... I don't dislike it, but I also don't like it... it was the safe play." [07:39]
  • "The only thing I could think is it was the safe play. Like you said, he is a good coach. He's proven, but like, I'm with you, why safe?" [07:54]

Team Culture & Steelers Decision-Making

• Discussion about how past hirings (Cowher, Tomlin) had deeper organizational guidance, now missing.
  • "Right now, we don't have anyone there that was really greatly involved in those last two hirings. And you add that with the fact that they were definitely caught off guard by Coach T stepping down..." – Debo [08:33]
  • “We're so afraid, dude, of that rebuild word, that we're doing anything in our power so that we don't have to look like that...” – Debo [09:28]
• Debo recounts Steelers’ real history of internal rebuilds:
  • "...From '97 to 2000, we had consecutive losing seasons. 97 was the last season we had that was a winning season until 2001, okay?... The starting offense only had three players that was on that roster from 97 to 2001... that was an internal rebuild, but they literally say it out loud as a rebuild..." [09:37]

McCarthy as a “Bridge Coach”

• Joe: "I can see what you're saying about him being like a middleman... a little gap in between person where he can come be the head coach and then also while he's here, bring in a great staff..." [14:05]
• Debo: Hopes an OC or DC could be the real future, while McCarthy is transitional.

Does This Move Signal Aaron Rodgers’ Reunion?

• Debo: "Do you think this hiring has something to do with possibly them wanting to... have a more likelihood of Aaron coming back?" [14:36]
• Joe: "I hope it's just not for a Rod. I hope it's a way bigger picture. If it's just for a Rod, that's going to be a one year thing... We would still be looking at him like, Mike, Tomlin, like, oh, you made it all the way there. That's not good enough." [14:53]
• Debo: "I just don't want him back because we need to be able to move on... Unless we get to the point to where we can actually get a franchise quarterback, dude, we're going to be in the same position, picking middle of the pack..." [16:15]

Organizational Fear & Missed Opportunities

• "We're so afraid of that rebuilt word that we made a snap decision out of fear, bro. That's what I believe." – Debo [17:31]
• Both agree the Steelers chose comfort and continuity instead of bold change.
• "Coach T stepped off on him. See? Oh, man. Like, I wasn't ready for this. And then it just like a comfortable pick instead of being like, no..." – Joe [17:48]

Aging Coaches and the Long-Term Outlook

• Debate on McCarthy's age:
  • "Nobody said Andy Reid was too old. Nobody said Bill Belichick was too old... but let's get a man a chance for sure." – Debo [23:40]
  • "I'm just thinking with younger energy, period and a 20 year stint, I'm not thinking he's going to be coaching until he's 83..." – Joe [24:31]

Final Take on the Hire

• Debo: "I'm hoping it's... a short term... it's a filler, you know, for who may hopefully be the next, you know, coming. But, you know, if he's great, all this stuff goes out the window for sure." [25:03]
• Both reluctantly accept: "That's our guy now, right?" – Deebo and Joe [26:24]

AFC Championship: Patriots Squeak Past Broncos 10-7

Segment Start: [26:57]

Game Analysis & Defensive Slugfest ([27:02] - [54:16])

• Debo: "Patriots, baby, and Bronco 10-7. That's a fight, baby. That's a fight." [27:02]
• Both delight in the gritty, low-scoring, snow-impacted classic, especially as defensive backs.
  • Joe: "That's a defense. I love that game. As a DB. That's the easiest game to play in. Just keep your feet. You need to wear seven stud cleats..." [27:39]

Notable Game Moments & Quotes

• The duo hilariously describe the struggle with snow and cleats.
• Criticism of coaching calls, notably Sean Payton's decision to forgo a field goal on 4th and 1:
  • Debo: "This right here, this fourth and one. I'm like, kick it. You already up seven. Go up ten." [35:39]
  • Joe: "You got to know points are at a maximum. ...Make it two possession. That's what I was looking at it like oh, he's going gusto. ...but you're bugging." [35:39]
• Patriots’ time of possession in the 3rd quarter gets special attention.
  • Debo: "New England had the ball for 13 minutes. Over 13 minutes, bro. Of 15 in the third quarter. ... That is wow." [43:08]

Decisive Defensive Plays

• Patriots’ defense holds firm, especially in crucial moments.
• Joe: "The weather is in my favor... as soon as it hits them all I got to make sure I'm breaking your arms. ...the weather is in my favor." [43:38]
• Blocked field goal late seals the win for the Patriots.
  • Debo: "Blocked it goes off. They done missed it, bro." [50:14]

Blame on Broncos’ Mistakes

• Both hosts agree that the Broncos’ decision-making cost them dearly:
  • "The biggest thing to me was Sean Payton not kicking that field goal right there on that fourth down." [54:53]
• Critique of QB play and turnovers: "Stidham throws a lollipop straight up in the air... Gonzalez great job staying on top, making a play, ending the game." – Joe [51:07]

Key Stats Called Out

• "Patriots had 206 total yards of offense. The Broncos had 181... every possession in each of these playoff games means so much and you're a smart coach. I know you went in that thing and studied the weather report..." – Joe [52:13]

NFC Championship: Seahawks Outlast Rams 31-27

Segment Start: [55:38]

Receivers Shine but Defense Decides Outcome

• Debo reminds Joe his prediction about Rams DBs proved true.
  • "What did I tell you about their DBs? Answer me when I’m talking to you." – Debo [55:56]
• Joe tries to focus on Puka Nacua's big game instead, hilariously sidestepping the Rams’ loss:
  • "You told me that they was going to. The defense was going to be trash. ...How much did Puka go for?" [55:56]

Sam Darnold’s Breakout Performance

• "The person who proved me wrong. Sam. Damn. Darnold... That man, look. He looked so good. ...25 of 36, 346 yards." – Joe [56:47]
• Both heap praise on Darnold after questioning his ability pre-game.

Game-Turning Mistakes & Missed Opportunities

• Debate on special teams gaffes and the field goal that wasn’t taken.
  • "...On that fourth and four going forward instead of kicking that field goal, that could have been 30 to 31. ...If you had saved just one time out over there..." – Debo [61:10]

Defensive Performances and Breakout Stars

• "The rookie from Seattle, number three, he looks just like Derwin James... He took over a series like he that young man balling." – Joe [58:27]
• Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III gets a special shoutout: "Walker the third... he's toting the joint like this." [59:03]

Super Bowl Picks Emerge

• Joe switches his pick: "I've got the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl for sure after this weekend." [59:14]
• Friendly jabs between the hosts about their Super Bowl loyalty.

Listener Q&A & Super Chat Highlights

Segment Start: [63:06]

Debo for Head Coach?

• Superchats light up with Steelers fans begging for Debo as head coach:
  • "For the love of God, please. Debo. Me and my wife both are begging for you to be the head... Give Debo the bag." – American Assassin 001 [63:10]
• Debo on potential coaching: "Maybe he might be willing... to see what I can offer to the team." [64:07]
• The duo jokes that if either joined the Steelers’ staff, “We ain’t gonna be able to do the show no more. …We gonna be the scoop.” [64:58]

McCarthy/Aaron Rodgers Reunion?

• Listener: "Pairing Mike McCarthy with Aaron Rodgers is a great move. If it was 15 years ago."
  • Both: "That would be definitely a great move if it was 15 years ago." [65:33]

Steelers’ “Always the Bridesmaid” Blues

• One Steelers fan laments seeing McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers on the team after past Super Bowl heartbreaks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Patriots-Broncos game:
  • "That's a defense. I love that game. As a DB. That's the easiest game to play in. Just keep your feet..." – Joe [27:39]
• On Steelers’ coaching hire:
  • "We’re so afraid of that rebuild word that we made a snap decision out of fear, bro." – Debo [17:31]
  • "It just looks like status quo. He just seems like he just doesn’t want to shake the boat too much." – Joe [06:39]
• On Sam Darnold:
  • "The person who proved me wrong. Sam. Damn. Darnold…" – Joe [56:56]
• Fan superchat:
  • "For the love of God, please. Debo. Me and my wife both are begging for you to be the head... Give Debo the bag." [63:10]

Timestamps – Key Segments

• [04:44] — Steelers hire Mike McCarthy: reactions & analysis
• [14:36] — Is this hire about Aaron Rodgers?
• [23:40] — Can an “old coach” still connect?
• [25:03] — Accepting McCarthy (“That’s our guy now”)
• [26:57] — Patriots-Broncos game breakdown
• [35:39] — Field goal vs. 4th down debate
• [43:08] — Patriots dominate possession
• [54:53] — Post-game: coaching decisions and playoff pressure
• [55:38] — Seahawks-Rams instant classic: breakdown
• [56:56] — Sam Darnold's performance shocks the hosts
• [61:10] — The Rams’ missed field goal and timeout disaster
• [63:06] — Super chats & listener Q&A
• [64:58] — Joking about being the new Steelers staff

Episode Tone & Style

Debo and Joe are candid, passionate, and quick to mix deep football knowledge with locker-room banter and a dash of self-mocking humor. They openly challenge management decisions, analyze games like ex-players, and keep the atmosphere fun and authentic, making this episode a must-listen for Steelers diehards and playoff junkies alike.