Mike Tomlin. Main Image: Charles LeClaire Imagn Images

HC candidates for Steelers after Mike Tomlin's exit

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Mike Kashuba | Last updated Jan 13, 2026 3:17 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to begin their search for their fourth head coach in the modern era. Now that Mike Tomlin has officially stepped down, here are four head coach candidates for the Steelers moving forward.

Chris Shula – Los Angeles Rams DC

Chris Shula has slowly moved up the ranks for the Los Angeles Rams. The grandson of Don Shula, Chris, has been around football his entire life and has a coaching pedigree that is hard to measure against.

He has experience on both sides of the ball, as he was the passing game coordinator for the Rams in their injury-plagued 2022 season. His expertise on defense was evident this season for the Rams, as they were top 10 in points per game and rushing yards allowed this season.

Shula is only 39 years old, and with the Steelers' history of stability and long leashes for their coaches, this could be the role Shula prioritizes for a lifetime as a head coach.

John Harbaugh – Former Baltimore Ravens HC

While initial reports were that the Ravens and Harbaugh agreed to part ways, it has since been revealed that Harbaugh was fired. The reports are all over the place, with some saying he lost the locker room and others saying that he didn’t mix well with the younger generation of players.

While he may not be the top option for the Pittsburgh Steelers among head coach candidates, he may want to go to Pittsburgh to have the chance to play the Ravens twice a year and show them they made a mistake.

He has a long history of success in Baltimore, and his ties with one of the more successful front offices in the league could revitalize some of the Steelers' front-office woes.

Mike McDaniel – Former Miami Dolphins HC

McDaniel’s demeanor isn’t for everyone. He’s a little quirky, but his offensive scheme could be a breath of fresh air for a Steelers offense that has been middle of the pack or worse since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

The locker room is full of leaders and playmakers on defense, and mixing it up to revitalize the offense could be a more interesting route than the classic defense and ball control style the Steelers have used in recent years. His system relies on speed and weapons on the outside, so a strong draft and free agency would be key.

Vance Joseph – Denver Broncos DC

Joseph is a retread who already had a run as the head coach for the Denver Broncos, but that roster was lacking clear direction for the future. His experience and tough style of coaching both fit Pittsburgh’s identity; he would just need an offensive coordinator to right the ship on the other side of the ball.

If the Rooneys want a similar style of coach with recent success, Joseph makes a ton of sense to be the Steelers head coach compared to other candidates.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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