The rumor mill is swirling around the Pittsburgh Steelers as they are looking for a new head coach for the first time in almost two decades. There are all kinds of reports flying off the wall every single day about who is liked and disliked within the organization, and who has a legitimate chance to be hired. Fans are anxious to see who comes out on top, as the whole future of the franchise could potentially be decided with this one move. There is so much on the line here for everyone involved.
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Steelers' Omar Khan with Team President and Owner Art Rooney II ahead of a road game in Baltimore during the 2025 season.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Aditi Kinkhabwala spoke about an unnamed coach that told her who is the current favorite to be the new head coach for the Steelers.
"I literally just talked to a coach that said Chris Shula is the leader in the clubhouse," Kinkhabwala admitted. "I just talked to a coach that said he thinks Chris Shula is the best fit for the Steelers."
Chris Shula is one of the few hot coaching candidates that has not had any head coach experience. His defense's performance in the Divisional Round earned him a ton of respect, as his Los Angeles Rams shut down the Chicago Bears' dominating red-hot offense. His unit had some questions in the previous month or so, but when he needed to step up the most, he did, and now he will try to keep that streak going in the NFC Championship.
Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula motions towards some players as he walks on the field while the team gets a work out in at a practice.
Steelers Owner and President Art Rooney II is known for sticking with old traditions, so seeing him go with a defensive mind would not be too shocking. It could be a perfect compromise with the fans, as he gets a head coach that focuses on defense, while the fans get a young leader that can really push the organization into the 2020s with some more modern tactics and philosophies.
With the Rams still in contention for a Super Bowl, it may be a while before the Steelers can hire Shula. The organization is likely hoping that Los Angeles loses in the NFC Championship so it can hire him as quickly as possible. A Rams victory would delay the hiring process for another two weeks if he truly is Pittsburgh's guy. That could lead to things getting very interesting.
Steelers' Long Process Could Lead To Other Coaches Getting Taken
There are other head coach candidates that the Steelers are very intrigued in, like Brian Flores and Anthony Weaver. If they truly want to wait for Shula's season to end before making a decision, these other candidates could get snagged by other teams, especially with the sheer number of vacancies that position. As time keeps passing, more of these men are going to get hired by other teams.
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Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores on the sideline.
If the Steelers do have to wait until after the Super Bowl, then it becomes more likely that they are putting all of their eggs in the Shula basket. If they love him as much as these reports say they do, they are likely okay with that. Odds are with other teams filling their vacancies, the Rams' defensive coordinator will not have many options available, so it could still work out well in both sides' favor.
If Shula's Rams do win the NFC and maybe even the Super Bowl, it would only strengthen his case, as he helped build up a defense with very few superstars into one that could hang with any opposing offense in the NFL. The Steelers have been desperately trying to find "winners" in recent years in terms of players. Getting a winning coach like Shula could be the jackpot.
What do you think about the Steelers possibly hiring Shula? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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