Steelers Fans Now Have Another Name To Watch Out For In Search For Next Head Coach: "They Might Give Him A Call"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very strategic throughout their unexpected head-coaching search. Mike Tomlin is under contract with the team, but decided that he did not want to return after an AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans. That sent Art Rooney II and Omar Khan into immediate planning mode. The organization can't afford to hire the wrong individual, as there is a reputation that must be upheld. Whoever ends up putting pen to paper will be expected not just to win, but to stay around for several years. It's an absolute privilege to lead the team in the Steel City.

The Steelers don't have to do too much selling when interviewing their candidates. The franchise has been known for loyalty, and whoever comes in will be guaranteed more than just a couple of years to earn the respect of the fan base and front office. Most of the individuals that have been given a look would be first-time head coaches, with the exception of Mike McCarthy and Brian Flores.

The league was shocked when Tomlin announced his resignation, but more surprises came later on when the Buffalo Bills decided to part ways with Sean McDermott after a Divisional Round loss. Now, both the Steelers and Bills are looking for new faces to lead their respective locker rooms. Pittsburgh has not been connected to McDermott just yet, but that doesn't mean it can't and won't happen.

Mark Kaboly joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Friday to talk all about the Steelers' search for a head coach. When Chris Mueller brought up McDermott, Kaboly didn't completely shut down the idea of the former Bills coach getting a call from Rooney and Khan.

"As of a couple of days ago, it was, 'Not yet.' I guess they're waiting to see — I read that as waiting to see if these initial candidates pan out of how they want them to pan out," Kaboly noted. "If it doesn't, maybe they'll go back to [him]."

While the Steelers patiently wait to see if they have found their guy, it's possible that no one truly blows them away during any of the in-person interviews. If that happens, McDermott might be an under-the-radar surprise interviewee.

"They might give him a call here within the next couple of days if they aren't quite happy with how this all plays out," Kaboly said.

This certainly adds a little bit of intrigue to the current situation in the Steel City. McDermott and Tomlin were college teammates, and neither is known for being a genius play-caller. However, McDermott's background is on the defense side, which would translate right into a Steelers' locker room that is used to that being its head coach's main focus. Leadership is also another trait that McDermott has, and Rooney wants.

The next head coach for the Steelers will begin to define a brand new era of football in Pittsburgh. McDermott would certainly be an intriguing choice, but as of now, it doesn't seem as if he is going to get a look. However, that could change in an instant. As Kaboly noted, the decision makers might end up deciding that no one is the perfect fit, which would trigger an extended search. At 51 years old, McDermott still has plenty of years left to coach at the professional level.

Steelers Would Likely Upset The Fan Base By Hiring McDermott

While the former leader in Buffalo is recognized as a great coach, he also had some trouble winning big-time playoff games. He wasn't able to get to the Super Bowl during his tenure despite having one of the most talented quarterbacks of the entire 21st century in Josh Allen. Fans in the Steel City are looking for innovation and creativity. The overwhelming majority of the Black and Gold faithful are hoping for a splash hire who changes the direction of the franchise, and that likely isn't McDermott.

Do you think the Steelers should kick the tires on McDermott? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation