The Pittsburgh Steelers are still looking for the man that can fill Mike Tomlin's shoes and lead the team to glory. Interviews are being scheduled and rumors are spreading like wildfire with each passing minute, as they have not been in this position in almost two decades. The future is as uncertain as it's ever been in their history. No one truly knows what will even happen in the next week, let alone for the 2026 season. Among all this uncertainty, the idea of change is an exciting one for the fans.
ESPN Monday Night Football
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on before a home playoff game against the Houston Texans in the 2025 NFL season.
In a recent article on ESPN, Brooke Pryor revealed one piece of information about the future of the Steelers: the amount of power and influence the new coach will have in day-to-day operations.
"[Mike] Tomlin also had a significant role not only as a locker room leader and an on-field decision-maker, but he also had a big say in the team's roster construction and talent evaluation," Pryor said. "The next head coach probably won't have the same amount of power -- at least not right away -- but he could wind up with a larger role than some of his counterparts across the league."
Out of all the head coaches in the NFL, there may not have been a single one that had more of a say for his team than Tomlin with the Steelers. He had that kind of control because of how much Art Rooney II adored and respected him, for better or worse. With a new leader coming in, he won't have that same comfort level like he did with Tomlin -- at least not right away according to Pryor.
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Steelers' Art Rooney II chats with former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a practice.
Early on in his career, Tomlin did not have that kind of control. He helped out with certain parts like player management and schematics, but he was not the one that dictated all of that like sources say he did in the back half of his career. According to Pryor, that will likely be the case for the new guy: oversee everything at first, then become one of the biggest voices in the entire NFL, once a certain comfort level is reached.
Many coaches are seen as being under the general manager in a team's totem pole. Only the most-respected men like Tomlin and John Harbaugh have had the ability to bypass that and report directly to ownership as their only boss. Whoever the Steelers hire will likely have to report to Omar Khan for his first couple contracts, but then he can jump up a spot and only have the Rooney family telling him what to do.
Steelers May See A Continuous Cycle
In Tomlin's first four seasons as head coach, he made two Super Bowls and won one before his amazing roster started to age and regress. After that, the results were obviously not what anyone was hoping for, and it resulted in the fans wanting a new leader to step up and take the team in a different direction. They got their wish with him stepping down, but how long will that last?
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin greets fans after a big win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14.
From what Pryor said, a similar situation could pop up. Whoever the Steelers hire may give the team a boost in his limited role due to having that new voice while also not having to wear too many hats on Day 1. Hopefully, he will be able to have better results and not have fans chanting for another change at head coach as time goes on. Only time will tell exactly how everything will go starting in the 2026 season.
What do you think about the Steelers planning on giving their head coach limited responsibilities early on and giving him more as time goes on? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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