After 19 seasons, a bunch of playoff berths, two Super Bowl appearances, and one Super Bowl victory, Mike Tomlin is stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers - he was not fired. This was Tomlin's own decision, and it feels like he is going to take the year off coaching.
We could see a scenario where Tomlin returns to the NFL ranks for the 2027 NFL Season, and, in that event, a team would have to trade for his rights, much like the Denver Broncos did for Sean Payton back in 2023. Anyway, the Steelers are now embarking on a very rare head coaching search.
The one advantage they have over other teams is how stable the franchise is and how patient the front office and ownership will be. Sure, Tomlin was the coach for 19 years largely because he kept doing a good job, but the Steelers are one of the more well-run franchises in the league, so they aren't just going to fire someone emotionally. Anyway, there is an obvious candidate to replace Mike Tomlin after his shocking exit.
Mike McDaniel makes a ton of sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace Mike Tomlin
You might laugh, but Mike McDaniel is the kind of breath of fresh air that the Pittsburgh Steelers need. He's 42 years old and still quite young for NFL coaching standards. After two playoff appearances in four years as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, the front office let him go, but he never won fewer than seven games in a season and finished 35-33 in those four seasons.
He was a solid head coach - he's also an offensive mind, and it really feels like Pittsburgh needs that type of person in the building, as they have to develop a quarterback, and McDaniel was able to get the most out of Tua Tagovailoa.
Another reason why McDaniel would be a good fit is that he comes from the Shanahan tree of coaching, and many of these coaches, like Sean McVay and DeMeco Ryans, have put forth very strong head coaching careers thus far.
McDaniel isn't some dysfunctional coach - he had a solid track record with the Miami Dolphins, is an offensive mind, and is young. He fits the mold of what many NFL teams are looking for in a head coach, and McDaniel was honestly a victim of some bad front office moves during his final two seasons.
Again, you might roll your eyes, but Mike McDaniel really does make a ton of sense for the Steelers.