One of Steelers’ top coaching candidates suddenly removed from contention

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a position they haven't been in for almost two decades. After the team and former head coach Mike Tomlin parted ways, the Steelers are in the midst of their first head-coaching search since 2007. 

The hiring process for a head coach is one of the most intriguing aspects of all of sports, thanks to the tireless effort and everything that goes into the process. Just like in the real world, relationships can make all the difference when it comes to getting coaching jobs in the NFL. Having a positive rapport with someone, or even a comfort level and familiarity, can give candidates the edge over others who lack that working relationship. 

To go along with this, a new head coach will usually also be in charge of the coaching staff. While you might think of this as just the offensive and defensive coordinators, there are a ton of assistant coaches for these positions as well. 

When hiring a head coach, you're not only hiring the coach, but the coaches that will join the lead man as well -- a major commitment that gets overlooked in the process. On "The PM Team w/Poni and Mueller" recently, such circumstances may have played a role in Jesse Minter not getting a second interview.

"Reportedly, Jesse Minter [of the Los Angeles Chargers] didn't give them the answers they wanted to hear on that, and that's why he didn't get a second interview," said Fillipponi.

This could mean a couple of things. It could be that the Steelers want a specific coach on Minter's staff that Minter isn't okay with. Or, most likely, the Steelers heard Minter's plans for his coaching staff and were not happy with the group as a whole. 

While the head coach gets the most attention and rightfully so, there are so many things that go into a coaching staff. If the coaches under Minter either didn't have what the Steelers were looking for, it's understandable that the team would look towards other candidates.

On "The Pomp and Joe Show" this week, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly also reported that Minter appears out of the running for the Steelers' head coach position.

"I think he's out. I got a sense that they aren't interested," Kaboly said.

The Steelers' head-coaching search is still wide open, with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula as the current betting favorite. For the Steelers, however, the Rams' continued playoff run complicates things a bit, as Shula cannot conduct an in-person interview with the Steelers until the Rams' season ends. Waiting for the Rams' season to finish means other head-coaching candidates can sign elsewhere while the Steelers wait, complicating things if Shula is not the guy.

Steelers' head coach search continues

The Steelers won't rush into hiring a head coach. Between the Shula situation and the importance of this decision, this process is likely to be drawn out. The Steelers aren't used to hiring head coaches; after all, they've had only three since 1969. If they get this decision right, it could set the Steelers up for success over the next decade. If they get it wrong, it can set the franchise back for years.