The Pittsburgh Steelers likely still have a long way to go before they decide on who their next head coach will be. They have yet to get an in-person interview with guys like Chris Shula, among other prospects that are linked to the team. There is a very realistic chance that the future leader of the team will not put pen to paper on a contract until after Super Bowl LX concludes. It may be frustrating, but a long, meticulous process is much better than just rushing into a candidate and hiring him immediately.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
General Manager Omar Khan speaks to the press at the Pittsburgh Steelers' UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
While making an appearance on NFL Live, analyst and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky gave a strong endorsement for Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver to potentially be the next Steelers head coach.
"Sign me up; sign me up for Weaver in Pittsburgh. Sign me up," Orlovsky said enthusiastically. "I am a huge Weaver guy. I look at coaches and say -- almost like quarterbacks -- 'Do you take a bad roster and make them competent, or do you take a good roster and give us a chance to win a championship?' I think he was a part of a lesser-talented roster in Miami, and they fought every single week and played at a good level. Sign me up for that in Pittsburgh."
The Steelers have had a virtual interview with Weaver, but they have not had one in person yet. With how long this process is expected to take, it would not be surprising to see them bring him into the facilities just to see exactly what he is capable of. They can try and see if Weaver was part of the reason the Dolphins' defense was not great, or if he was the reason why they weren't last in the league.
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Anthony Weaver prior to a game when he was coaching with the Baltimore Ravens.
Weaver's Dolphins were ranked 22nd in yards against, 16th in sacks, and 16th in total takeaways. Overall, those are not exciting numbers, but the point Orlovsky was trying to make is that without their defensive coordinator, they would have been much worse in general. If he can take a rough unit like that and make them competent, he should be able to take a highly touted unit like the Steelers and make it amazing.
To Orlovsky's point, there was not a lot of high-end talent on the defense, especially with the sheer number of injuries they had just at the cornerback position after trading away Jalen Ramsey. Minkah Fitzpatrick was a nice addition, but he can't fix the unit all by himself from the safety position. The Dolphins will likely spend a lot of time addressing defense in free agency and the draft.
Steelers Could Be A Good Fit For Weaver
In Pittsburgh, Weaver would inherit a generationally great edge rusher group and a young, solid cornerback room. There are a couple other quality pieces on the defense, but it does need some work overall. Infusing the defensive line and safety positions with more youth could help take the talent of the team to the next level, and if he truly is a great defensive mind, "Blitzburgh" can become a feared unit once again.
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Steelers outside linebackers Alex Highsmith (56) and TJ Watt (90) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The biggest question with Weaver will be with his coordinator choices. First and foremost, he will need to find a great offensive coordinator to help out with a rough unit like that. After that, he has to decide if he wants to be the one to run the defense or if he wants to bring in a strong defensive coordinator to take that off his plate and take full control of this unit. Before all that, he needs to prove himself to ownership.
What do you think about the Steelers hiring Weaver to be their next head coach, as well as Orlovsky's take on his tenure in Miami? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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