For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are searching for a new head coach. The departure of Mike Tomlin leaves team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan with enormous shoes to fill, as the decision-makers hope to continue a streak of Hall of Fame head coaches since the NFL merger.
The Steelers have been quick to request interviews for their vacant head coaching position. On Wednesday, the first five interview requests were reported, and others are sure to follow as Pittsburgh is on the cusp of making one of its most important decisions in years.
Their latest interest reveals a painfully obvious direction in the Steelers' head coach search.
On Thursday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have requested to speak with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero about the head coaching opening.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are strongly considering a young defensive mind as their next head coach
Evero has been an NFL defensive coordinator for four years. After spending the 2022 season with the Denver Broncos, Evero spent the last three seasons calling the defense for the Panthers. Before this, Evero worked as an NFL assistant coach since 2007.
This interview request is interesting, considering the Panthers ranked 32nd in points allowed and yards allowed in 2024. However, Evero helped Carolina's defense make significant strides in 2025, as his team reached the playoffs.
It's not hard to see the direction the Steelers could be headed with their head coach decision.
Evero joins Chris Shula, Brian Flores, Jesse Minter, and Anthony Weaver as young defensive minds who could potentially take over the head coaching role in Pittsburgh. In fact, five of the Steelers' first six interview requests were each with an NFL defensive coordinator.
I recently wrote about how the Steelers would want to follow a pattern that has worked for them in the past. Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher were both 34 years old at the time they were hired, while Chuck Noll was 37. All three of Pittsburgh's head coaches since the merger have been defensive-minded tone-setters.
Evero checks most of the boxes Art Rooney II could be looking for. At 45 years old, Evero still has plenty of coaching years ahead of him, and he has experience as an NFL defensive coordinator.
Outside of Flores, the Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed almost no interest in going with a re-tread head coach who already serves as a head coach on another NFL team. Rooney and Khan want a young, defensive-minded coach, and Ejiro Evero fits the bill as a potential option.