It won't be long before the Pittsburgh Steelers make their choice at head coach. Replacing Mike Tomlin isn't a decision that can be made lightly, and if this hiring goes anything like the last three head coach decisions, the new HC could be with the team for a long time.
There are reports that the Steelers could still add interview candidates. But as we stand right now, the top prospects for the job are starting to unfold, and Pittsburgh's potential number one option is starting to come into focus.
While we can hardly rule out names like Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver, and even Mike McCarthy, the Steelers seem to have had their eyes on one candidate from the beginning: Chris Shula.
Shula, the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, checks every box the Steelers look for in a head coach hire—he's young, he brings an aggressive, defensive-minded presence to the team, and he would be a first-time head coach. Shula shares these similarities with the previous three HC hires in Pittsburgh: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin.
While Shula feels like a strong candidate for the job, the Steelers might be focusing on the wrong Rams' assistant coach.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should strongly consider Nate Scheelhaase for the head coaching role
Shula seems to have it all. At 38 years old, the Rams' DC has helped his defense improve in each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, his strong family coaching tree—and the fact that he comes from the Sean McVay school of coaches—will only help his cause with Steelers team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.
But if the Steelers want to go for an even bigger upside swing, Scheelhaase is the candidate they should be focused on.
At just 35-years old, the Rams' passing game coordinator has worked side-by-side with McVay to run the league's premier passing offense. In 2025, the Rams finished the year with the No. 1 scoring offense (averaging 30.1 points per game) and the No. 1 total offense (392.6 yards per game).
While McVay is responsible for calling the plays—and Rams' offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur also deserves credit—Scheelhaase is one of the most promising upcoming offensive minds in the business. Scheelhaase was hand-selected by McVay before the 2024 season, and after helping his team to the top offense in the NFL in 2025, he's deservedly drawing head coaching buzz.
Scheelhaase doesn't fit the mold of the defensive-minded head coach the Steelers typically look for, but NFL rules are constantly changing to favor the offense, and Pittsburgh needs to adapt to the times. McVay is a perfect example of why you don't need a defensive-minded HC to find Super Bowl success.
Because he's not a household name and a defensive coach like Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase might not be the popular option for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. But if they want someone who can revolutionize the offense, Scheelhaase is the LA Rams coach the Steelers should go after to replace Mike Tomlin.