Surprise, surprise! The Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed interest in hiring a young, defensive-minded head coach early in their hunt to find Mike Tomlin's replacement. Just one day after learned of Tomlin's decision to step down, the Steelers requested to visit with NFL defensive coordinators Chris Shula, Brian Flores, Jesse Minter, and Anthony Weaver.
On Thursday, we learned that the Steelers requested to meet with Carolina Panthers DC Ejiro Evero about the vacant head coaching position. Now, another defensive-minded coach has been added to the mix... and one that is sure to draw some buzz.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Steelers requested to interview Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for the head coaching position.
Hafley spent the past two seasons as the DC in Green Bay, where his defense finished in the top-12 in back-to-back seasons. In 2024, in his first year with the Packers, Hafley's defense ranked fifth in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed, all the while finishing third in DVOA and fourth in EPA per play.
Before signing as the defensive coordinator of the Packers, Hafley spent time as a college head coach, and he's been in the coaching business since 2001.
Jeff Hafley checks the boxes the Pittsburgh Steelers look for in a head coach
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a type when it comes to desirable traits in a head coach—they want a young, defensive-minded tone-setter. Though they have just a three-coach sample since the NFL merger, this has been the case from Chuck Noll to Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin... and we don't expect that to change.
At 46 years old, Hafley is quite a bit older than Tomlin and Cowher were (34) when they were hired by the Steelers for the head coaching role. Meanwhile, Noll was 37 years old when handed the HC job for Pittsburgh. But if they can get past this, Hafley has what they are looking for.
In addition to bringing success to the Packers as a defensive coordinator, Hafley has roughly 25 years of coaching experience, between college and the NFL. Likewise, the Steelers have always preferred to hire first-time head coaches, not re-treads who have been the lead man for a team before.
Packers fans know what Hafley means to Green Bay's defense, and many are fearful they might lose him. Of course, the Steelers can cast a wide net. Though they don't have their quarterback situation figured out, head coaches are offered more job security in Pittsburgh than anywhere else in the league.
Hafley becomes the eighth head coaching interview request from the Pittsburgh Steelers just days after Tomlin's departure. To no surprise, seven of the eight candidates so far have been defensive-minded head coaches and current defensive coordinators.
We'll soon find out which candidate the Steelers ultimately settle on, but it sure feels like it's going to be a defensive-minded tone-setter that Pittsburgh ultimately rolls with as its new head coach.