Steelers Suddenly Connected To Young Defensive Mastermind As Mike Tomlin's Replacement

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to play the Baltimore Ravens for a winner-take-all, hat and t-shirt game on Sunday night. In the Week 18 contest, the Steelers’ path to the postseason is simple: beat the Ravens and they’re in. The loser will see their 2025 season come to an end, making this one of the most high-stakes matchups in the rivalry in recent years.

If the Steelers blow the division once again, many questions will be heading Mike Tomlin’s way about his ongoing playoff drought. Tomlin has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and while the idea of Pittsburgh outright firing him has long sounded far-fetched, the pressure continues to build as the years go by without postseason success. Another early exit would only amplify the scrutiny surrounding the future of the franchise.

However, there may be another path to Tomlin and the Steelers parting ways. NFL insider Albert Breer revealed on Friday that the longtime head coach may be considering stepping away from the sidelines. Tomlin is only 53 years old, but according to Breer, he could be open to taking a year or two off and potentially moving into television before eventually returning to coaching. 

"The Steelers, Ravens and Bills have generated conversation in recent weeks," Breer said. "Is there any reality to it? I don’t think these would be firings. But there is some thought that Mike Tomlin could look at a reset, with the Pittsburgh roster potentially going through one soon too, and take a year or two in TV before returning to the sideline. And interestingly enough, [Chris] Shula’s name has been connected to the Steelers, in case there is an opening."

If that scenario plays out, the Steelers would suddenly have a head coaching vacancy, and Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula is a name already emerging as a potential candidate if Tomlin decides to step away.

Shula has quietly become one of the more intriguing rising names in the football world, and it’s easy to see why. Any coach who has spent years learning under Sean McVay is going to draw serious interest around the league. 

Shula has been part of a Rams staff that consistently adapts, evolves, and maximizes talent on defense, even as personnel changes year to year. That kind of flexibility and modern approach is exactly what teams look for when considering the next generation of head coaches, especially organizations searching for a new voice and a fresh vision.

For the Steelers, it’s fair to wonder if the partnership with Tomlin has simply run its course. Stability has long been Pittsburgh’s identity, but stability without postseason success can eventually turn into stagnation. A potential step away by Tomlin would allow both sides to reset without the ugliness of a firing, opening the door for a new era while preserving his legacy in Pittsburgh.

Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Starving To Remind The NFL World Who He Is

Of course, all of this speculation could disappear quickly if the Steelers beat the Ravens and go on a deep playoff run. The urgency is real, especially after the organization made a bold move by bringing in Aaron Rodgers for the 2025 season to help Tomlin finally end his playoff drought. 

For the first time in four years, Rodgers is positioned to make the postseason with legitimate expectations. What happens next may define the future of the franchise for years to come. Of course he has to beat the Ravens in the Steel City first.

If the Steelers did decide to move on from Tomlin, who would you like to see them hire to become the next head coach? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!

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