Steelers Facing Numerous Disadvantages Compared To NFC West Teams In Offensive Coordinator Search

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for an offensive coordinator, but they are not alone. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams now also find themselves with vacancies after both franchises recently lost their offensive coordinators to head-coaching jobs. On the surface, that puts all three teams in a similar position, but in reality, the Steelers appear to be at a significant disadvantage compared to Seahawks and Rams when it comes to attracting a top-tier offensive coordinator candidate.

Seattle and Los Angeles are both searching for new offensive coordinators after recent promotions elsewhere. Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak is expected to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ next head coach, and Rams Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur will remain in the NFC West after being named the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

For both Seattle and Los Angeles, the loss of their play callers is a direct byproduct of offensive success. The Rams fielded the league’s top offense, finishing first in the NFL in both total yards and points scored, while Seattle ranked eighth in yards and third in scoring. 

Those numbers highlight why both coordinators became hot head coaching candidates, and they also explain why the Seahawks and Rams are now attractive destinations for the next offensive mind looking to step into a well-established system.

Both Seattle and Los Angeles present a far more defined and stable offensive foundation than Pittsburgh. Roster construction is the first major factor working against the Steelers. While Pittsburgh has some promising pieces on offense, the overall unit remains a question mark. The Steelers ranked 25th in total yards in 2025 and just 15th in total points scored and on top of that, the quarterback position is still uncertain. 

The Seahawks and Rams both enter the offseason with a clear answer under center, with Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford both performing at MVP levels in 2025. That alone is often the biggest selling point for an offensive coordinator, as designing an offense becomes exponentially easier when the quarterback position is settled. 

The Steelers, meanwhile, do not currently have that luxury. With no definitive starting quarterback in place, any potential hire would be signing up for uncertainty at the most important position on the field.

That uncertainty extends beyond talent and into timeline. An offensive coordinator joining Seattle or Los Angeles can reasonably expect to compete right away, while also having continuity year over year. In Pittsburgh, the new coordinator would likely be part of a transitional period, potentially breaking in a new quarterback or juggling multiple options. 

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage for the Steelers, though, has nothing to do with personnel. New head coach Mike McCarthy has already announced that he will be calling the plays, as he did in his time with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. 

While that decision provides clarity within the organization, it significantly lowers the appeal of the offensive coordinator role from an outside perspective. Many of the top offensive minds around the league are looking for opportunities to run their own system, call plays, and put their fingerprints on an offense. In Seattle and Los Angeles, that is exactly what the job offers.

For the Steelers, this does not mean they will fail to fill the position or that the hire will be ineffective. It does, however, mean that expectations should be tempered. Pittsburgh may need to look toward younger, less proven candidates, or coaches who are comfortable taking on a secondary role under McCarthy. Meanwhile, Seattle and Los Angeles are positioned to land higher-profile offensive coordinators who view their openings as stepping stones rather than stopgaps.

Steelers Might Find An Offensive Coordinator Soon

Scott Tolzien, the current quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints and a former NFL quarterback, is scheduled to interview for the Steelers’ offensive coordinator position. 

Tolzien has a history with McCarthy, having played for him in Green Bay for two seasons and later joining his coaching staff in Dallas as a coaching assistant before being promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2023. Although Tolzien won't be calling the plays in Pittsburgh if hired, the opportunity to reunite with his former head coach might be just enough to attract him to the Steel City.

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