The Pittsburgh Steelers are deep into their search for the franchise's next Head Coach, and after nearly 20 years without needing to undergo such a process, they seem prepared to take their time. That is generally a smart plan for any endeavor, but with other teams beginning to finalize their own choices, patience could end up being a detriment.
Luckily for them, one of their top candidates will have to wait at least one more week before he can meet with teams in person. Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula just helped his team earn a spot in the NFC Championship, and now any interviews he had planned will have to be rescheduled.
Not that he minds, considering his defense was a huge part of why the Rams defeated the red-hot Chicago Bears 20-17. If he wasn't already at the top of Pittsburgh's wish list, Sunday's display should make him the top target to be their next HC.
Rams' DC Chris Shula just showed why he is a perfect fit as the Pittsburgh Steelers next HC
The Steelers famously have employed just three HCs since 1969, with Chuck Knoll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin all lasting at least 15 years in Pittsburgh. With Tomlin stepping down after another disappointing playoff loss, his successor will have huge shoes to fill.
Shula checked all the right boxes even before his impressive coaching job on Sunday. He is a young (39), defensive-minded coach coming from an established coaching tree, having been with Sean McVay in LA since the beginning of McVay's career there back in 2017. He has risen through the ranks all the way to being the DC the past two seasons, where he has taken a flawed defensive roster and coached them into a solid unit.
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Some of his best work came against the Bears this week, as he limited their vaunted rushing attack to just 4.1 yards per carry (compared to their usual 4.9) and forced three interceptions from quarterback Caleb Williams.
Forcing turnovers has been what Shula's defenses have been best at in his two seasons as DC, forcing 46 combined over that time. The Steelers' defense has put a premium on forcing turnovers as well, making him a seamless fit. Some fans may want to focus on playing lockdown defense, opposed to just gunning for turnovers, but they don't have to be mutually exclusive.
The Rams have the second-fewest cap dollars allocated to their defense this season, compared to the Steelers spending by far the most, according to OvertheCap.com. Despite that, the Rams' defense was the better unit in 2025 by nearly every metric. With the Steelers' talent and experience, maybe fans can have the best of both worlds.
While I am partial to an offensive-minded HC myself, it's hard to find a coach in this cycle that feels like a better fit in Pittsburgh than Shula. Don't forget the strong NFL bloodlines, as he is the grandson of NFL wins leader and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula. We all know how much the Steelers love that kind of thing.