NFL Insider: Steelers Now Have 3 Top Candidates For Open Head Coaching Position

The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to hire the wrong individual to be the team's next head coach. While Mike Tomlin struggled to win playoff games dating back to the 2017 campaign, the organization has stability and was consistently relevant in December under his leadership. Now that he has stepped down, the franchise is being tasked with finding his replacement. This isn't just any job, either. Art Rooney II has the responsibility of bringing someone in that could be on the sideline for several years. Turnover may be common in the NFL as a whole, but it is not in the Steel City, which adds to the pressure.

Rumors have been flying regarding the Steelers and what the front office may be valuing when it comes to the interview process. Leadership is certainly important, and Pittsburgh has often gone after defensive-minded individuals in coaching searches. An unexpected candidate is certainly Mike McCarthy, who is 62 years old, has been the lead man in two different cities, and may not have desires to coach more than a half dozen seasons or so.

Overall, however, McCarthy is being looked at as one of the top favorites to land the job. Mark Maske is a veteran NFL insider for The Washington Post, and he reported on Wednesday night that many around the NFL believe that the Steelers are locking in on three individuals, two of which focus on defense, while McCarthy is more offensive-driven.

Brian Flores did ink a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, but that is null and void if he gets offered a job to be a head coach. He interviewed in person with the Steelers, so there is definitely some smoke when it comes to his candidacy. Chris Shula is another name that has consistently been mentioned, as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator will have to wait until after the NFC Championship game to meet with Pittsburgh again.

Overall, it's interesting to note that the Steelers alleged top three all have different experiences. McCarthy was a head coach twice and won a Super Bowl, Flores had a lead gig once, and Shula would be accepting his first top job. If these three are the preferred candidates, Pittsburgh has some serious evaluations to do internally, because all of them are extremely different.

Someone could always come out of nowhere and truly impress the Steelers' brass; it's exactly what Tomlin did all the way back in 2007. With that said, it seems as if the organization has a clear thought process this time around. The McCarthy interest is a bit odd given how the team historically hires, but fans can't rule out the idea that Pittsburgh is locking in on a young defensive leader, which would allow the native of the Steel City in McCarthy to be hired as the offensive coordinator.

A lot of options remain on the table for Rooney and co. It is truly possible that the team is the last to hire someone, as the franchise has always been known to take its time when it comes to critical decisions. However, the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott following a Divisional Round loss, so it's also possible that the Steelers make a decision before their AFC rival does.

Steelers' Dream Candidate Has To Be Chris Shula

Pittsburgh seems to not be a hurry with its current process. That could be due to the fact that the top candidate on the list is not allowed to be interviewed in person until after the NFC Championship Game. The Shula family is well-known in the NFL, and at 39 years of age, the Rams' defensive mastermind could find himself a home in the Steel City for a very long time.

Do you think that the Steelers have already internally narrowed down their list to three candidates? Let us know in the comments below!

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