The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the trenches when it comes to a process that has not been seen in the Steel City since 2007. Mike Tomlin decided to walk away from the organization after 19 seasons at the helm, which has put Art Rooney II and Omar Khan in an interesting situation. The franchise is expected to make a home run hire, particularly because there have only been three individuals to lead the team dating back to 1969. Whoever comes in as the fourth must make an immediate impression, and have the ability to get the best out of everyone on the depth chart.
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Steelers Team President Art Rooney II sits down on the sideline as the collective gets ready to participate in a professional football game.
Pittsburgh is expected to take its time with the search, but some names could move through the process quicker than others. It has been reported that Brian Flores will receive an in-person interview with the Steelers, and a second name was thrown into that mix on Monday morning after news broke that Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver would be welcomed to the Steel City sometime soon.
Weaver spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before landing the defensive coordinator gig down in Miami. In a recent post on social media, several old interview clips from John Harbaugh emerged, and the now-New York Giants leader had glowing reviews regarding Weaver, something that could help Steelers fans get to know him a little bit better.
"He'll be a great head coach," Harbaugh said. "Some day some people are going to look back and they're going to say, 'Man, we had a chance to hire Anthony Weaver'... I guarantee you that."
While Harbaugh no longer coaches in Baltimore, 18 years of a rivalry with Pittsburgh doesn't just go away overnight. His past compliments of Weaver would lead one to believe that he would despise if the Steelers ended up hiring him.
"Anthony's just an absolute star," Harbaugh said in the clip. "I mean, he lights up a room, just the way he coaches the guys, the way he presents. His understanding of defense generally, but also his leadership ability. You know, the way he manages players and coaches and works with the people."
Pittsburgh could be onto something. Weaver isn't the hottest name on the market, but Tomlin wasn't either back in 2007. The Steelers could be hunting for their next diamond in the rough.
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Former Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh (left) and former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talk on the field prior to a competitive matchup in Pittsburgh, PA.
Weaver also coached Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey during their time together in Miami. Once the Dolphins hired Weaver, the same social media clip replayed what the defender had to say about his new defensive coordinator back then.
"I think he's a great coach. I think he's a great hire," Ramsey said in 2024.
As far as the Ravens go, Harbaugh isn't the only one connected to Baltimore that has praised Weaver. General Manager Eric DeCosta predicted a while back that the defensive mastermind would land a top job at some point.
"I knew he would be a great coach because of the way he carries himself and his mentality, his grinder mentality," DeCosta said. "The way that he carries himself every day; his work ethic, and the way that he would relate to the players. I feel like he's going to be a head coach some day."
Leadership is a very important trait the Steelers will be hunting for when it comes to the franchise's next head coach. Weaver seems to possess those qualities, which is why is shouldn't come as a surprise that he is receiving an in-person interview.
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Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver speaks to members of the media after a mandatory minicamp practice on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Steelers Would Benefit From Hiring Someone That Is Familiar With The AFC North
The AFC North may not have been the best division — or anything close to it — on paper in 2025. In fact, it was one of the worst as far as combined records go. However, it is a unique group of teams that genuinely don't like one another. Each battle is hard-fought, regardless of what each respective franchise's record is going into any given contest. Weaver provides a lot of familiarity, and he also was on the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff from 2013 to 2014.
Do you think that Harbaugh would be irked if the Steelers hired Weaver? Let us know in the comments below!
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