The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be vetting several different candidates in the comings days and weeks in the hopes of finding the perfect replacement for former Head Coach Mike Tomlin. The legendary leader stepped down following a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, and now the organization is playing catch-up due to the later-than-normal opening. Art Rooney II and Omar Khan have some serious work to do as the franchise is not just in unusual territory, but it also hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016. Fans are expecting the front office to nail the upcoming hire.
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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.
Pittsburgh was reported to have a good amount of first interviews in place, but the telling sign it when someone is brought in for a second. The in-person request means that the team is incredibly interested. It's one thing to meet with a candidate virtually, but it's another to welcome him to the Steel City to show off the Lombardi Trophies at the team's facility.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Steelers are set to bring in Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver to Pittsburgh in the coming days. He joins Brian Flores as another individual who will get to meet with the organization's brass in person.
#Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver is expected to have a second, in-person interview with the #Steelers for their HC position this week, source said. pic.twitter.com/O9GFwlKUSD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2026
Weaver is 45 years of age and has been with Miami since the beginning of the 2024 season. He also is very familiar with the AFC North, as he was with the Baltimore Ravens from 2021 to 2023. He is a polished coach with a ton of experience. While he would not be deemed as a splash hire, the Steelers clearly seen something in him that they like.
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Steelers Team President Art Rooney II roams the sidelines as the team warms up and gets ready to compete in a 2022 preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Weaver also played for the Ravens from 2002 to 2005. Decision-makers in the Steelers' building actually got to watch him play against Pittsburgh. He also spent the final three seasons of his seven-year career playing down in Houston.
The interest in Weaver shouldn't come as surprising. He is a defensive-minded coach, which is a trait that the Steelers have always valued when going through a search for a new head coach. While he has never held the position at the professional level before, Tomlin hadn't either back in 2007. Additionally, Weaver was with the Cleveland Browns for two years in 2023 and 2014.
Familiarity with the AFC North can't be a coincidence when it comes to Weaver. He is not viewed as a top-tier candidate, but the fact that he has worked for two rivals is a bonus, even if the stints weren't all that long. There are certainly bigger and more appealing names, but fans have to trust that Rooney and Khan know what they are doing. Both were around when the Steelers found a diamond in the rough in Tomlin almost two decades ago.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands over near and signs pictures for the fans as the team prepares to work out during a training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Are Likely To Be Very Patient With Hiring Process
Pittsburgh has interest in plenty of candidates, and some of them will be on the sidelines for the NFL's upcoming Conference Championship Games. This will slow down the process a bit, but it won't stop the decision makers in the Steel City from getting together in person with someone that impressed initially. Weaver seems to fit that mold, and according to Rapoport, is moving on in the process.
Do you think that Weaver would be a good fit for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!
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