Well, it didn't take long for former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to resign. He stepped down as the top coach in Pittsburgh after 19 years with the organization. Now comes the almost impossible job of locating a replacement. The Steelers had a similar conundrum when Bill Cowher stepped down, but they found a legendary replacement with Tomlin. Both won Super Bowls.
Now, it's a new era for Pittsburgh as its favorite football team searches for a new leader.
Expect plenty of changes to happen this offseason between coaches, players, and potentially the front office. General manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II will lead the charge to find an adequate replacement for Tomlin. It won't be easy to find a quality replacement for the long-time staple.
According to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, there could be some intriguing names on a short list for the Steelers.
He identified four candidates who fit the culture the Steelers have maintained under Tomlin. As that identity has hit a crisis point in recent years, Pittsburgh has called for change. That change will come in the form of a new head coach.
Pittsburgh Steelers' insider claims one of these names could replace Mike Tomlin as HC
Farabaugh tweeted, "The four early names that make sense to me for the Steelers from their cultural / identity perspective: Marcus Freeman, Jesse Minter, Chris Shula, Brian Flores."
It is an interesting group of names, so let's break down each candidate listed by the Steelers insider.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame head coach
First up is Marcus Freeman, whom the Steelers reportedly monitored through back-channel evaluations during the season. Freeman has stated he plans to stay at Notre Dame this year, but it's not every day that a coaching gig with high job security becomes available. He lacks NFL head coaching experience, but the Steelers’ interest would be difficult for him to pass up.
Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator
One of the top candidates in this hiring cycle has been Jesse Minter.
He has been closely linked to Jim Harbaugh since 2022, following him from Michigan to the Chargers as defensive coordinator. Minter has done terrific things as a defensive play caller both in the NFL and in college. He could help maintain Pittsburgh’s defense-first identity, which could spark mixed reactions among fans.
READ MORE: Steelers playoff loss reignites talk of Mike Tomlin replacements
Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator
This one makes a ton of sense for Pittsburgh. He has strong NFL bloodlines, being from the Shula family; his grandfather is Don Shula. The Steelers were rumored to have interest in Shula leading up to their Week 18 matchup against the Ravens. With Tomlin now out of the building, this will likely be one of their interviews, and potentially the favorite to hire. Shula is a strong candidate in this pool.
Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator
Another name who will find plenty of connections to Pittsburgh will be Brian Flores.
Some might even consider him an early front-runner, as Farabaugh leans into it since he has a prior connection with the team and Tomlin. Flores was only with the Steelers during the 2022 campaign, but he is a grizzled leader looking for a head coaching job. He could make a ton of sense to add to this group.