Steelers Fans Get Legitimate Insight As To Which Coaches Will Stick With The Franchise Under New Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through a monumental change as a franchise after closing out the 2025 season. The organization is looking for a new head coach for just the second time this century after Mike Tomlin announced he would be stepping down. This came as a shock to some, but it was clear that the organization needed some sort of change at the coaching position. The Steelers must hit the ground running with its coaching search as the first interviews will take place on Friday, and it is a developing situation that will have a lot of attention over the next few weeks.

Aside from the shock of Tomlin moving on from the Steelers, fans have been wondering what kind of a ripple effect this might have within the organization. None of the assistant coaches were promised they would retain their jobs, but they will have the opportunity to stay if the new head coach that is brought in wants them to stick on the staff. Oftentimes, new head coaches already have guys hand picked for certain roles on their own staff, which would eliminate the large majority of the current staff in Pittsburgh. 

Team insider Christopher Carter was asked about what coaches might stick around during a mailbag on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and he listed some names.

"The people who might stick around would be key assistants who are plugged in with important parts of the team," Carter wrote. "Denzel Martin, Karl Dunbar, Eddie Faulkner all ring that way. Martin's been the outside linebackers coach who's overseen the best years of TJ Watt and developed Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Also, Jack Sawyer had a strong rookie year for a fourth-round pick. Dunbar has overseen Cam Heyward's best years and is getting good results out of Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton and Yahya Black."

Eddie Faulkner is the only offensive coach named by Carter, while Karl Dunbar and Denzel Martin have done a good job developing talent up front on defense. Faulkner has coached some very productive running backs in Pittsburgh over the last few seasons and he seems largely responsible for the success story that is Jaylen Warren.

Martin should be a near-lock to keep his job, unless he earns some sort of a promotion elsewhere. He has developed some special talents at outside linebacker for Pittsburgh, and he has probably led the most productive group of outside linebackers in the league since he has been with Pittsburgh. The organization obviously has two stars in that room, but Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer have each played very well when given the opportunity to do so.

Dunbar is a tough choice. On one hand, the rookies on the defensive line played well in 2025. On the other, the reason Pittsburgh has had to focus on the defensive line so much in the last year is because the franchise has missed on the group so much. There are more failed projects on the defensive line than successes, which might incentivize a new head coach to bring in someone else to coach up the group.

Steelers' Danny Smith Could Go Elsewhere

Perhaps the most popular assistant coach for the Steelers is Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith. He has always been popular due to his fun attitude and character, but he was not mentioned by Carter as a coach that may be retained. 

Pittsburgh has struggled in the return game, the team had far too many kicks blocked in 2025, and it has been a while since the organization has found a spark in the third phase of the game. Smith could consider retirement, or he might explore opportunities elsewhere.

Do you want to see any assistant coaches retained in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

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