Problem For Steelers Coming To Light As AFC Rival Could Poach Head Coach Candidate

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are soaking up everything they can as the organization continues to search for its next leader in the locker room. This kind of process does not happen often in the Steel City, which is why is has demanded so much attention from national and local media outlets. Speculation has run rampant, and it should, as only 32 individuals have the chance to coach NFL teams at one time. There were 10 openings after the Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott, and the vacancies are quickly filling up as each day passes and the Super Bowl inches closer.

Mike Tomlin had an incredible run in Pittsburgh, as did McDermott in Buffalo. While one stepped away and the other was let go, it's easy to argue that the teams they left behind are in the top two most desirable situations for a candidate to end up in. Because of the Steelers' stability over the years, the job in the Steel City was probably the most attractive until McDermott was fired and Josh Allen was left without a head coach.

This provides a unique challenge for the Steelers, but only if certain candidates that Pittsburgh is interested in begin to catch the eyes of the decision-makers in Buffalo. Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly explained on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller that there aren't too many threats out there right now because of which organizations still have vacancies to fill.

"So you can sit there and just play the long game right now with a guy like a Chris Shula, right? Where's he going to go? All of a sudden, he doesn't want to go to Cleveland, right? Doesn't probably want to go to Arizona," Kaboly noted.

While the insider has valid reasons for believing that someone like Chris Shula won't have any interest in landing with the Cleveland Browns or Arizona Cardinals, one call from the Bills could change everything, which is why Art Rooney II and Omar Khan need to be ready to make a move right after Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

"The only thing, I guess, you would have to keep an eye on would be Buffalo and see where they swoop in at," Kaboly said. "I wouldn't think that they would be interested in a defensive coach, but we thought maybe Baltimore wouldn't have been interested in a defensive coach, too, and they went that route, too, so that's the only one you have to keep an eye on is Buffalo."

Pittsburgh has a history almost like no other franchise throughout the NFL. Having just three head coaches since 1969 is something to be proud of. Unfortunately, in 2026, the more attractive job opening is with Buffalo because of Allen's presence. If the Bills want to poach a top candidate from the Steelers, they have the sellable pieces to do so.

The Las Vegas Raiders also have not made a final decision on who the organization's next head coach will be, but even with the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, it doesn't appear as if the team will be in play for one of Pittsburgh's preferred candidates. It would take a very specific approach by Buffalo to snag someone like Shula, which is why it could bite the Steelers if they take a little too long to make a decision.

Steelers Could Have Next Head Coach In Place Shortly After Conference Championship Weekend

If Pittsburgh requests to interview Shula immediately after the Los Angeles Rams play in the NFC Championship Game, he could arrive in the Steel City, blow the decision-makers away in person, and verbally agree to become the next head coach in the Steel City. It should not come as a surprise to fans if this process comes to a close very soon. Shula and Nate Scheelhaase are the names to keep an eye on because if they weren't, why would someone else not have been hired yet?

Do you think the Bills could swoop in and steal a lead candidate from the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!

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