Steelers Are Eager To Hire Head Coach With Experience But 1 Top Candidate May Defy The Requirement

The Pittsburgh Steelers are searching to find the next leader of the franchise. It is no secret that they have only had three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin. All three coaches produced at least one Super Bowl for the organization and have played a major role in shaping its storied history. The next hire is certain to have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps, as the Steelers are known for not moving on quickly from head coaches.

Many are curious whether Pittsburgh will choose a candidate with prior head-coaching experience or follow the path they took in 2007 when they hired Tomlin, trying to find gold before other teams could. Tomlin did not have much experience and had no head-coaching background, but the Rooney family saw something special in him and made the decision to hire him. That gamble has since paid off, as Tomlin has become a cornerstone of the franchise.

NFL insider Mike Florio went on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday to share his insights, noting that Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula is the only candidate in the current mix without head-coaching experience. The other two primary candidates, meanwhile, are seasoned head coaches: Brian Flores and Mike McCarthy. The Steelers’ choice will reveal whether the organization prioritizes proven leadership or seeks another diamond in the rough.

"I think there are not gonna be many first-time head coaches," Florio said. "We have already seen it to be 4/4 guys with head-coaching experience. I think if anybody from the Rams is gonna get that job, it’s Chris Shula."

Florio seemed very confident that the majority of teams that are, or were, searching for a new coach in 2026 are valuing a lot of experience. Specifically, having a past role as a head coach is being taken into account. Shula being hired would defy that notion. That doesn't mean, however, that it can't happen. He is a young and up-and-coming defensive mind that somewhat mirrors how Tomlin was looked at all the way back in 2007.

He believes that history may give the Steelers, specifically Team President Art Rooney II, more confidence in hiring Chris even without head-coaching experience. Another potential option is Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, though Florio does not see him as a super serious candidate this cycle. He expects the Steelers’ choice to come from someone with head-coaching experience as mentioned, or Shula.

"I heard this before the coaching carousel began to spin," Florio said. "There were only two jobs open, those two that were open during the season. There’s going to be a preference for people who have coached ideally at the NFL level… Every time you take a coordinator and make him a head coach for the first time, you are making a projection that he can thrive with a different skill set."

The Steelers’ next head coach will inherit a franchise with a deep history of stability and success, where patience and long-term vision have often paid off. 

Steelers' Next Chapter Promises To Be Very Defining

Whether the organization chooses a proven leader like Flores or McCarthy, or takes a calculated risk on Shula, the decision will be closely watched across the NFL. 

Pittsburgh has shown a willingness to identify potential and make bold moves when it matters most. Ultimately, the new hire will have the chance to continue a legacy built by Noll, Cowher, and Tomlin, and the franchise’s next chapter promises to be just as defining. Steeler Nation is eager to find out who Rooney will hire to lead this new era of Steelers football.

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