All the noise surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, after that brutal loss to the Buffalo Bills, has centered on one question: Should the Steelers and Mike Tomlin finally go their separate ways? We all know Art Rooney II does not have the stomach to fire him outright, but if both sides decide this run has reached its end, especially if the rest of the season continues to spiral, it is not impossible.
There is no defending Mike Tomlin anymore. It is hard to understand how anyone still tries. The Steelers have spent a decade as an average football team, and over the last two seasons, things have gone from bad to downright embarrassing. Nothing about this team is good in any phase, and the future does not look much brighter.
It is undeniable that a change is overdue. This has been years in the making, and at some point, the head of the snake has to roll. If a head coach position does open in Pittsburgh, here are some of the top candidates the Steelers should consider.
Pittsburgh Steelers could look at these HC options if the Mike Tomlin era ends
Seattle Seahawks, Offensive Coordinator - Klint Kubiak
Klint Kubiak is the son of former head coach Gary Kubiak, who led both the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos. Klint is currently the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and served as the Saints' offensive coordinator last season. Despite working with Sam Darnold at quarterback, Seattle has the third-highest scoring offense in the NFL.
Kubiak also spent a year with the 49ers in 2023 as Kyle Shanahan’s passing game coordinator, giving him valuable experience in one of the most respected offensive systems in football. In today's NFL, offense is everything, and the Steelers have never hired a coach with a true offensive background. If Pittsburgh finally decides to modernize, Kubiak is one of the hottest names available.
With the Steelers still searching for their next franchise quarterback, there is no better move than pairing that young player with a head coach who understands offense at a high level and comes from a Super Bowl-winning coaching lineage.
Los Angeles Chargers, Defensive Coordinator- Jesse Minter
Jesse Minter has become one of the most talked-about names in recent head coaching cycles, thanks to his long run under both John and Jim Harbaugh dating back to 2017. From 2017 to 2020, he worked for the Ravens as a defensive assistant and later as their defensive backs coach. He then left to become the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt before joining Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship as defensive coordinator.
When Jim Harbaugh took the Chargers job, Minter followed him to Los Angeles and is now the Chargers' defensive coordinator. The Chargers have one of the top defenses in the NFL, and Minter’s track record speaks for itself.
If the Steelers want to stay with a defensive-minded head coach, Minter checks every box. And the added bonus is obvious: he knows your biggest rival, the Ravens, inside and out.
Green Bay Packers, Defensive Coordinator- Jeff Hafley
Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will be one of the most sought-after head coaching interview candidates this offseason, and for good reason. Green Bay has the fourth-best defense in the NFL, and Hafley’s background is both extensive and impressive.
He also has ties to Pittsburgh, having coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 2006 to 2010 as a defensive assistant and later as the defensive backs coach. After that, he moved through both the college and NFL ranks, serving as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2019 and then as Boston College’s head coach from 2020 to 2023 before heading to Green Bay.
Hafley has a strong resume, and he is another young defensive mind who could elevate this high-paid Steelers defense.
Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Coordinator & Defensive Coordinator- Mike LaFluer & Chris Shula
It is never a bad idea to poach a coach from Sean McVay’s tree, as many of his former assistants have gone on to become NFL head coaches or coordinators. The Rams, one of the league’s best teams, currently have two coordinators who are likely future head coaches.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, the brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, is part of a Rams offensive staff that is firing on all cylinders, with Matthew Stafford playing MVP-caliber football. LaFleur has worked under some of the greatest offensive minds in today’s NFL, including Kyle Shanahan with the Browns, Falcons, and 49ers, and with his brother Matt in Atlanta when they were both with the Falcons. Now under McVay’s influence, he is widely considered a top candidate for a future head coaching role.
On the defensive side, coordinator Chris Shula, grandson of the legendary Don Shula, has been with the Rams since 2017. Over that time, he has helped develop strong defenses, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one. This season, he has the Rams ranked 13th in total defense.
Both LaFleur and Shula are rising stars from McVay’s staff who could bring proven NFL success to a head coaching role.