Mike Tomlin just held his after season press conference. In that talk, he spoke about many different things that we should expect over the offseason. A couple of the most notable things were his coming contract extension, competition for Kenny Pickett, and finding an outside option as their next offensive coordinator.
Not only will the offensive coordinator be new on the coaching staff, but Tomlin explained that there will be other changes on the coaching staff in Pittsburgh for next season. It will be a busy offseason for the Steelers, and adding an outside option at offensive coordinator should excite fans. This hasn't happened since Todd Haley was hired many years ago.
Byron Leftwich is the obvious choice as the next Steelers offensive coordinator
First up on our list is one of the obvious ones here. Byron Leftwich probably shouldn't be the hire at offensive coordinator, but the Steelers could do worse. He has a lot of connections to the organization, and he is qualified for the job. He has been out of work for a year, so that could be a cause for concern for the immediate future.
Tomlin wants someone who can work closely with quarterbacks and put a new spin on the black and golds offensive attack. Leftwich has worked closely with Tom Brady during his days in Tampa Bay, and that might have helped his development as a coach too. Pittsburgh could use someone with a wealth of knowledge at the quarterback position to help their struggling young quarterback.
Pickett could benefit from this hire, but it seems like Leftwich might be better off as a positional coach or a passing game coordinator whose sole responsibility is to work closely with Pickett. Leftwich would be a decent option, but it seems too obvious. There will be better options out there for Pittsburgh to hire.
Cliff Kingsbury could take Kenny Pickett's game to the next level
Cliff Kingsbury was someone many mentioned to the Steelers last year when they thought Matt Canada would be fired. He is a young coach who has a good offensive mind. He has worked closely with the likes of Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, and Patrick Mahomes to name a few. He also had a stint where he worked with Johnny Manziel during his time at Texas A&M.
You cannot say he was the main cause for those players to succeed, but he knows how to help quarterbacks get to another level of development. Kingsbury is already getting interviews around the NFL, most recently with the Chicago Bears. His NFL stint as a coach hasn't been great yet. He needs to find a spot where he can rebuild his career.
He was the Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals and got fired halfway through last season. His offensive style just didn't gel, and it caused him to get shown the door. He went back into the college ranks and worked at USC with Williams, who many believe will be the top pick in the upcoming draft. Many think that Kingsbury could be a piece of the puzzle to these successful quarterbacks.
Kingsbury is someone who could thrive as a coordinator in the NFL. He wants to get back into a top job in either the NFL or college sooner or later. If he can fix Pickett and the Steelers offense, then that dream of a top job becomes clearer for him and the future of his coaching career. Pittsburgh could be a stepping stone for him.
David Girard has a Pittsburgh connection and could get a promotion
Next up on the list is the local coach, David Girard. He hails from New Kensington, PA. That is located about 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh. He doesn't have as strong a resume as others on this list, but he is someone who could get interest from the Steelers as the playoffs continue to play out for the Chiefs.
He has been with the Chiefs organization since Patrick Mahomes was drafted and has developed into the best quarterback in the NFL. Girard can't take credit for that, but he knows what it's like to be around a great mind at quarterback and could bring that into a new position as offensive coordinator.
We know that the Chiefs quarterbacks coach has gone on to get coordinator positions in recent history and it seems like Girard could get that next promotion sometime in the near future. He has also held the titles of pass game analyst, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive quality control coach.
Tomlin will love the local Pittsburgh connection that Girard has, and the fans might like that spin too. There are more qualified people out there to take the opening as offensive coordinator though. He might need another season or two, but if Kansas City wins the Super Bowl again, then it would make sense for the Steelers to consider him.
Pep Hamilton might be a top candidate that Mike Tomlin might not pass up this time
Someone who has been interviewed for the Steelers offensive coordinator spot in recent history was Pep Hamilton. We know that Tomlin likes his line of work, and it would make sense for Pittsburgh to circle back to him. Canada ended up getting the job after Hamilton was under consideration. That should provide confidence for another interview for Hamilton.
It was an obvious mistake to go with Canada, and it would be surprising if Tomlin didn't give Hamilton a call for an interview at least. He has a lot of experience in the NFL, especially working with quarterbacks. He also has a chunk of experience in the league as an offensive coordinator too. His blend of offensive experience should only help his chances.
Hamilton has also held the role of Head Coach in the XFL during their covid shortened season that caused them to fold for a second time. Both he and Tomlin are around the same age, so that is another thing that could get these two to see eye to eye. With Tomlin, that trait is something he holds dearly as he wants his guys to follow him into battle and keep the locker room together.
Right now, Hamilton is working with the NFL Network. He wants to get back into coaching and it seems likely that he will get another shot soon. The Steelers would make a good hire here if they picked him out of the group. He is a good quarterback developer and someone that should turn their offense in the right direction.
Klint Kubiak fits everything the Steelers need in their next offensive coordinator
One thing that the Steelers love with Tomlin at the helm is the family connections to football. Perhaps the top candidate to be the next offensive coordinator for the Steelers should be Klint Kubiak. He is the son of former NFL coach, Gary Kubiak. Tomlin would surely like to see that on a resume. Kubiak checks off a lot of boxes for what the Steelers are looking for.
He has a wide-ranging tree of experience in the NFL as a coach. He has coached receivers, and quarterbacks, and has been an offensive coordinator and analyst on multiple occasions. He is still only 36 years old so that young offensive mind that fans are dying for is there with Kubiak. He might not have had the most successful coordinator experiences yet, but he has had time to learn from his mistakes.
His father had a strong career in the league that was all offensively motivated. He got help getting jobs around the NFL based on his name, but he has done a nice job of being flexible and willing to grow as a coach. He could be looking for a Head Coach position if he finds the right spot. Maybe fixing the Steelers offense would be the situation that gets him into Head Coaching conversations.
The Steelers would love to get someone like Kubiak. He has a lot of the qualities that Tomlin spoke about during his press conference. Kubiak has been a quarterbacks coach and has also held the role of offensive coordinator a couple of times. He works with the San Fransisco 49ers right now, and he should be able to learn a few things from Kyle Shanahan during his time there.