With unparalleled stability, the Steelers seek a successor. Explore five compelling candidates, from a championship architect to a legendary coach's kin.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a coach, and there are no recent trends to indicate who might replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned on Tuesday.
The Steelers have conducted just three coaching searches in the last 57 years, a period during which the organization has been the standard for stability in professional sports. Tomlin spent 19 years on the job; his predecessor, Bill Cowher, logged 15 seasons, and before that, Chuck Noll was the coach for 23 seasons.
With that in mind, it’s guesswork to determine who Steelers owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan might hire. Nevertheless, here are five possibilities:
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter: The Steelers chose young, up-and-coming DCs the last two times they hired coaches, and the 42-year-old fits the description. Minter was the architect of Michigan’s 2023 national championship before following Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. The Chargers were fifth in total defense and ninth in scoring defense this year.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman: He recently signed a reworked contract and says he is happy in South Bend. Yet Freeman is the only known coaching candidate to have been vetted by the Steelers this season as they considered the possibility of Tomlin leaving. Freeman has a 43-12 record at Notre Dame, but it might be difficult for the 40-year-old to pass up one of the NFL’s more coveted jobs.
Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula: He certainly has the bloodline as the grandson of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula and son of former Alabama coach Mike Shula. Chris Shula also fits the description of a highly regarded young DC, as he is 39. The Rams are still participating in the playoffs after Shula’s defense ranked 10th in points allowed and 17th in total yards allowed during the regular season.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores: When he was fired by the Miami Dolphins as their coach following the 2021 season, Flores filed a discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. Yet the Steelers hired Flores, and he spent one season with them before moving on to the Vikings in 2023. Flores, 44, had a 24-25 record during his tumultuous Dolphins tenure. The Vikings ranked third in total defense and seventh in points allowed this season.
Former Packers and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: The Steelers haven’t hired a coach with NFL head-coaching experience since Buddy Parker in 1957. So, while the 62-year-old McCarthy, who sat out this season, might seem like a longshot, he has two attributes that could make him attractive to the Steelers. One, he is a Pittsburgh native who grew up in the Greenfield section of the city. Two, he has a close relationship with Aaron Rodgers and might persuade the 42-year-old quarterback to come back to the Steelers for one more year while they again try to find a franchise QB.