The Pittsburgh Steelers just hired Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, and they must fill out a quality coaching staff around them. As they roll with McCarthy as their top guy, he must be smart with who his offensive coordinator is. As a long-time head coach, hiring a high-upside offensive play-caller would be a smart move for Pittsburgh to potentially take over at some point.
Adding a known commodity might be the best choice, but the Steelers could have options to work with.
With Mike Tomlin gone, it appears current offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will also depart, creating a vacancy and likely several others on the coaching staff. Pittsburgh would be wise to target either a high-profile hire or a high-upside candidate to boost the offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers next offensive coordinator must lean towards being a splash hire
Joe Brady, Bills Offensive coordinator
He has generated significant buzz around head coaching openings, but Joe Brady could remain on the market as an OC option.
A young offensive mind, Brady has helped Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense reach another level. He could become the head coach in Buffalo or stay on their staff as the coordinator. The Steelers would love to add a headlining name like Brady, but they would have to compete for his services.
Nate Scheelhaause, Rams Pass game coordinator
Perhaps McCarthy will be different with the Steelers; many in Pittsburgh hope Nate Scheelhaase can become their next offensive coordinator. In that case, Scheelhaase would have to miss out on other coaching opportunities around the NFL. Scheelhaase becoming the next offensive coordinator of the Steelers with McCarthy as head coach could be a potential dream scenario.
READ MORE: Predicting the Steelers’ dream coaching staff after Mike Tomlin’s surprise exit
Kliff Kingsbury, Ex-Commanders Offensive coordinator
He remains in head coaching conversations around the league, but Kliff Kingsbury might have to wait. He is still one of the better offensive minds in football and could become a solid target for the Steelers as their next offensive coordinator. He has prior head coaching experience and produced strong offensive attacks in college and the NFL.
Kingsbury could also help develop a young quarterback, something the Steelers might need.
Davis Webb, Broncos Pass game coordinator
Another wonderkid option out there is Davis Webb. He has gained some chatter around the head coaching vacancies this offseason, and he should see a promotion soon. The elevation of the Denver Broncos' offense this year has been shocking. Webb has received significant praise for their development. He has learned from a strong offensive mind in Sean Payton since 2023.
Brian Daboll, Ex-Giants Head coach
Adding an experienced coach could be an interesting choice. Brian DaBoll was an outstanding offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills before joining the New York Giants as head coach. Although his tenure as head coach was unsuccessful, he is still regarded as one of the NFL’s top play-callers. Pittsburgh could take a big swing if they end up hiring DaBoll to replace Smith.