The Pittsburgh Steelers are in foreign territory shortly after losing yet another postseason contest in the Wild Card Round. Legendary Head Coach Mike Tomlin has officially decided to step down from his post as the league's longest-tenured leader. Art Rooney II and Omar Khan will now go through the rigorous process of finding just the fourth head coach in the organization's history since 1969. Names are already starting to be thrown around, and the stability that the franchise has proven to provide could be extremely attractive for a number of external candidates.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Any new regime will bring fresh ideas and opinions, and that won't just have to do with the coaching staff. The Steelers have an aging roster that included the highest-paid defensive unit in the NFL in 2025, once again. In what appears to have transitioned to an offensive-driven league, Pittsburgh will be tasked with sticking to what it knows or hiring a young, generational play-caller to reinvent the wheel in the Steel City.
There have been countless reactions to the Tomlin news, and team insider Gerry Dulac is one of the more well-connected individuals when it comes to the franchise. On Wednesday, he hosted a chat that was loaded with questions about what the organization is planning to do next. Everyone knows that several new faces will emerge on the coaching staff, but almost everybody on the roster should also be worried about job security.
"As for the Steelers, there will be moves -- both among coaches, of course, and players. I will say this -- nobody is untouchable, short of a couple young off. and def. linemen," Dulac wrote.
Players that come to mind that aren't going anywhere include Derrick Harmon, Zach Frazier, Troy Fautanu, Yahya Black, among others. Overall, however, a lot of familiar faces could find themselves playing in a different colored jersey come September. The new head coach will likely have a tremendous amount of say in how the roster is built moving forward.
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Steelers defensive lineman Derrick Harmon jogging on the field as the team warms up prior to a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
There is going to be a lot of pressure on whoever ends up getting hired by the Steelers. While fans have been very critical of Tomlin, the reality is that the team has not had a losing season dating back to the 2003 campaign. That poor showing led to the organization having the opportunity to draft Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. The current locker room is heavily compensated, but that doesn't mean that whoever comes in will necessarily agree with the depth chart.
Pittsburgh is expected to have over 10 draft selections when the big event commences in the Steel City at the end of April. That capital will be attractive to candidates that come in for interviews. It will also be crucial for the new leader to have a phenomenal working relationship with Khan, something that Tomlin most certainly possessed since the front office leader was promoted back in 2022.
Right now, there are a whole lot of questions without many answers. Things could get even more confusing before everything is totally resolved. One thing is for sure, though, and that is the fact that it's not just coaches that are going to find themselves on the hot seat. Individual contributors could also be in trouble when it comes to roster decisions being made in the near future.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks on as the team sets up in front of fans to workout at the annual Friday Night Lights training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Have No Choice But To Sell One Of The Top Candidates
It will not be known for several days, or maybe even weeks, who the next head coach in Pittsburgh will be. The good news is that there are six Lombardi Trophies to show off. On top of that, there is a level of loyalty that really cannot be found anywhere else in sports. Rooney and Khan will have a sales pitch, and the duo have to execute it.
Do you think that the Steelers may have some surprising trades and/or cuts in the 2026 offseason? Let us know in the comments below!
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