Green Bay, Wisconsin – January 26, 2026
As the NFL coaching carousel continues to spin following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to hire Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, one familiar name with deep Green Bay roots has made his stance clear.
According to league sources, Al Harris has declined an interview request from the Steelers for a defensive coordinator role, despite McCarthy’s personal outreach and their long-standing professional relationship. Instead, Harris has reaffirmed his strong interest in returning to the Green Bay Packers, the organization where his legacy was first built.
Harris, a cornerstone of the Packers’ defense from 2002 to 2009 and a Super Bowl XLV champion, has steadily climbed the coaching ranks since retiring. His time working under McCarthy with the Dallas Cowboys further strengthened the belief around the league that a reunion in Pittsburgh was inevitable once McCarthy landed the Steelers job.
But Harris saw it differently.
“Green Bay is home to me,” Harris said, according to sources close to the situation. “That’s where I became the player I was, and it’s where I learned what this league is really about. I have nothing but respect for Coach McCarthy and everything we accomplished together, but my heart keeps pulling me back to Green Bay.”
That sentiment appears to have driven his decision to pass on Pittsburgh’s interest. While the Steelers continue to reshape their staff under McCarthy, Harris has focused his attention on opportunities with the Packers, where defensive leadership remains a priority this offseason.
“What we built in Green Bay wasn’t just about winning games,” Harris added. “It was about accountability, toughness, and playing for something bigger than yourself. If I get the chance to help bring that standard back to the defense, that’s something I want to be part of.”
Sources around the league believe Harris views Green Bay not simply as a nostalgic destination, but as a place where he could play a meaningful role in shaping the next era of Packers football. His deep understanding of the organization’s culture and expectations has only strengthened his standing as a top internal candidate for a prominent defensive role.
From Pittsburgh’s perspective, Harris’ decision comes as a surprise, given the clear path to reunite with McCarthy. For Green Bay, however, it’s a significant signal — one that a franchise icon is willing to wait, and even say no elsewhere, for the chance to come back.
As the offseason unfolds, Harris’ choice underscores a familiar truth for Packers fans: some connections to Green Bay never fade, and for Al Harris, the next chapter he wants to write still feels unfinished in green and gold.
