The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff is going to see some turnover during the 2025 offseason, just not at any of the big positions that a lot of the fan base wants to see. Some position coaches have expiring contracts, and the Steelers just lost Inside Linebackers Coach Aaron Curry to the New York Jets. He will be taking on a similar role in New York, but the Steelers will need to fill that vacancy as soon as possible. It is unclear who the top candidates will be for the position, but fans should get some clarity on that in the coming days.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin ahead of a 2024 home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin will be the one with the most say in making the hire, and it has become clear over the years that he likes to be somewhat with familiar with his coaching staff. A name that should be considered for the position is Ryan Shazier, who called the shots on the defense in Pittsburgh for multiple years as a player.
Shazier was Pittsburgh's first-round pick back in 2014, and he was looking like one of the top inside linebackers in the league. He brought a rare form of athleticism to the position. Throughout his four seasons with the Steelers, he made two Pro Bowls and had nearly 300 combined tackles, along with seven interceptions. He was a playmaker, but he unfortunately suffered a career-ending injury in 2017.
The former linebacker was playing in a December game against the Cincinnati Bengals when he attempted to make a tackle over the middle of the field. He was clearly injured immediately, and it was reported the next day that he had suffered a spinal contusion. He had to undergo surgery, which meant relearning how to walk and run. He never played again, and officially retired just before the 2020 season.
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Former Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier is carted off the field in Cincinnati during the 2017 season.
Despite getting injured, Shazier has been a constant in the organization for the Steelers. He is always in Latrobe for training camp, and he took on a job as an offensive assistant in 2024 during the offseason. Tomlin has been public about his relationship with Shazier, and he has verbalized his belief in Shazier to be a fantastic coach in the NFL one day.
Shazier should be an obvious candidate to take over as the coach for the inside linebackers. He played the position at a high level for the Steelers, and he knows what it means to be a part of the organization. He has a good working relationship with Tomlin already, which is something the head coach likely values going into this search.
A hire like this would probably inspire fans to believe in the coaching staff again, as the group has been taking a lot of heat for the way the 2024 season came to a close. Shazier is just 32-years old, but it is hard to imagine he would not be good at the job.
Steelers Have Multiple Former Players To Consider For Vacant Coaching Position
One of Shazier's former teammates, Vince Williams, is someone else that can be considered for the vacant coaching position. He was never an All-Pro caliber player, but he was a true leader when he was on the field for the Steelers. Williams has remained a part of the organization as he has been helping the team out throughout the 2024 season, and he should be able to fit in seamlessly to the coaching staff if he is given an opportunity to do so.
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Former Steelers linebacker, Vince Williams (#98) runs off the field in emphatic fashion following a road game during his NFL career.
Williams is a bit older than Shazier as he is 35-years old, which is still extremely young for a coach. If either Williams or Shazier want to have a future as a coach, now is the time to jump on the opportunity.
Who would you want the Steelers to hire to fill the void on the coaching staff? Let us know in the comments below!
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