The Pittsburgh Steelers became the ninth team to be in need of a new coach in the 2026 offseason, as Mike Tomlin stepped down following a playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Pittsburgh will be hiring just their fourth coach since 1969.
While the Steelers may not look like a team that is destined to immediately go on a championship run now that Tomlin has vacated his post, some rumors from an NFL insider make it sound as though Pittsburgh is going to have no shortage of top coaches from around the league asking for this job on bended knee.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirmed that three different coaches getting interest in this cycle have texted him to confirm that they are interested in taking the Pittsburgh job after Tomlin was let go, citing both ownership and the history of the franchise.
Schultz claims that sentiment around the league states only the Baltimore Ravens job rivals Pittsburgh in terms of both prestige and the ability to immediately hit the ground running as a winner. The Steelers could have their pick of the litter in replacing a legend like Tomlin.
Jordan Schultz claims coaches view Steelers job as elite after Mike Tomlin leaves
On one hand, the Steelers are a gold-star franchise historically, and the Rooney family has proven to be both effective and patient leadership. The defense has the ingredients to be very successful, and the AFC North around Pittsburgh is as weak as it has ever been.
However, the Steelers have no succession plan for Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, lack a good first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to land said quarterback, and will be burdened with some salary cap issues in the coming seasons. Taking the black and gold glasses off might show some of the warts with this job.
Pittsburgh could go in one of two completely different directions in hiring its next coach. Will they stick with what has worked for almost 60 years and hire a young defensive assistant, or are they going to flip the script and target someone on the offensive side of the ball?
Either way, whoever takes this job has the very unsavory task of replacing a legendary coach that will assuredly end up in the Hall of Fame. Tomlin was able to step in for Bill Cowher, and it remains to be seen if his successor will do the same.