Even NFL coaches are not exempt from visiting the blue medical tent.

Steelers coach Mike McCarthy spent halftime getting his ankle checked out without going to the locker room, although he remained on the sidelines for the start of the third quarter against the Buccaneers in Tampa.

The veteran coach limped off the field at halftime after apparently suffering the injury on the sideline late in the first half.

“I don’t recommend it,” McCarthy told reporters about his experience in the tent. “It’s really hot in there.”

The 62-year-old McCarthy is in his first season coaching the Steelers, reuniting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after they previously worked together with the Packers, including winning Super Bowl 45.

McCarthy was out of the NFL in 2025 after a five-year stint with the Cowboys.

The Steelers, who came into the game with a 3-2 record, trailed the Bucs 13-3 at intermission before winning in overtime

“People don’t realize what happens at halftime, I think,” McCarthy said. “There’s like a huddle by the coaches in the back and the players … we’re just BS’ing and talking among ourselves about things that happened. Some sandwiches get eaten and bananas. … There’s not a whole lot of stuff that happens at halftime.”

Earlier Sunday, umpire Larry Smith had to be carted off the field after slipping on the wet grass between plays during the Texans’ win over the Jaguars in London.

“I’m glad he’s OK,” Aaron Rodgers said of his coach. “He’s from Pittsburgh. He toughed it out.”

— with AP