Breaking down the pros, cons of the Steelers' coaching candidates

As one of the NFL's marquee franchises, football fans everywhere are paying close attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching search. And based on reporting, the Steelers are already knee-deep in looking into prospective candidates. 

However, whoever replaces Mike Tomlin, who abruptly stepped down following his seventh-straight playoff loss and after 19 years at the helm on Jan. 13, will need to be the right fit, not only to rebuild the present-day team, but to restore Pittsburgh to glory. Because, of course, the Steelers have only employed three head coaches since 1969.  

To add to the discourse, we will break down the pros and cons of several potential coaching options.  

Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver 

Pros: The Steelers are already sold on the idea of Weaver enough to grant him one of their early in-person interviews. Weaver would represent a similar hire to bringing in an up-and-coming Tomlin back in 2007. 

He's a defensive coach who has been working up the ranks from college to the pros for years. Weaver's speciality is the defensive line and pass rush, making him an attractive candidate to the Steelers' most veteran players in Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. 

Cons: Weaver is 45, not 35, and he's been around the coaching ranks for 16 years before getting a true look. He's only been a defensive coordinator for two lackluster years in Miami — the Dolphins allowed the 11th most yards per game on average in 2025. 

Vikings DC Brian Flores

Pros: Flores represents a familiar name to Steelers fans. In fact, he would be a coach with a connection to the last staff, having worked under Tomlin in 2022. 

Unlike most of the others, Flores has served as a head coach before. Despite his eventual firing, Flores did enjoy a winning season in his brief time with the Dolphins — he led Miami to a 10-6 record in 2020. 

Cons: Flores feels like a lot like a younger version of Tomlin, something that turns off a frustrated fan base hoping for change. He's also a true defensive coach who may struggle to help a Pittsburgh offense that struggled mightily at times in 2025 and will likely be drafting a rookie quarterback this spring. 

Rams DC Chris Shula

Pros: The Shula name is synonymous with the NFL coaching royalty — Chris is the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula. Chris has also paid his dues and worked his way up the ranks within one of the most successful franchises over the last decade. 

Shula started with the Rams as an assistant linebackers coach in 2017 and now leads the imposing Los Angeles pass rush. He's witnessed firsthand how to build a championship culture, not just from his grandfather, but also from being part of two Super Bowl runs and one win under Sean McVay. 

Cons: He is young, granted the Steelers may not view that as a negative, and has only held a top position for two years. It's possible he's not ready to fully hit the ground running as the head man with pressure. That said, it's impossible to truly know unless someone gives him a chance. 

Former Packers, Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy

Pros: McCarthy has been there and done it before. He's also a Pittsburgh native and would bring a sense of nostalgia with him. At the very least, McCarthy would likely stabilize the team and garner respect in the locker room. Like Tomlin, McCarthy's teams always stay in the hunt. 

Cons: While he may stand out as the most proven coach on the market, his last championship capped off the 2010 season, ironically, the last time Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl. He did lead the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-win regular seasons, but like Tomlin, has built a track record of failing to advance once in the postseason. 

Simply put, McCarthy is also too old. He's 62 and would instantly become the second-oldest coach in the league behind only Andy Reid, 67. The Steelers also have historically preferred hiring younger coaches. 

Tomlin was 34 when he was hired, as was his predecessor, Bill Cowher. Chuck Noll was just 37 when the Steelers hired him in 1969, making him the youngest head coach in the NFL at the time. 

49ers OC Klay Kubiak

Pros: Kubiak has coaching in his blood. His dad is former NFL coach Gary Kubiak, and he also has two brothers involved in the NFL — Klint, the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks and Klein, a scout for the Cowboys. 

As far as his own work, he's often credited with guiding the emergence of Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant to one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Only seven teams posted a higher total yards per game output than San Francisco in 2025. 

Cons: In a similar situation to Shula, teams may wonder if Kubiak would be better served to have more time as a coordinator. Pittsburgh may even think a job like the Steelers could be too big, too soon. All of that will depend on whether he can impress Rooney in the interview, much like how Tomlin did 19 years ago.