Tuesday, while still reeling from the latest playoff loss, Steelers fans were treated to a sudden, shocking exit of head coach Mike Tomlin. If you’ve been around these parts long, you know that the pleas
for Tomlin to step away or to be let go have been a constant in the comment sections and articles of this website for the past several years. And yet, for every one of those pleas, there was also a chorus of Yinzers reminding us that the Steelers just don’t succumb to the whims of the fanbase.
And somehow, both of those distinct groups were right on Tuesday.
While I personally still have a great deal of respect for what Mike Tomlin has accomplished, and the many happy Steelers memories from my youth he helped create, I think most reasonable and informed people would agree he was given an exceptionally long leash compared to what other coaches tend to have. The Steelers teams of the past decade were never truly as awful as some of the NFL’s perpetual cellar dwellers, but they were never truly great either.
Yet, if the reports coming out of Pittsburgh are to be believed, the Steelers were the ones left surprised by this outcome. Mike Tomlin left because he decided it was time to leave on his terms, not because ownership felt that it was time for a change. Just like many of those bemoaning the constant calls for Tomlin’s job told us it would be. Maybe it wasn’t exactly how they said it would go down, but they were ultimately right — the Steelers didn’t fire Tomlin.
Regardless, I find the whole thing bittersweet. I think both of us here at R&R are excited to see what becomes of this next chapter of Steelers football. Anything could happen. But I still look forward to one day seeing Tomlin enshrined in Canton, and I will be wishing him the best in his next endeavors, be that television, another team, or the quiet retirement he’s more than earned if that’s his choosing. I also hope that, given the grace and space of time, he can one day return for future Steelers celebrations and be appreciated for what he and the team achieved here.
Today, we’ll be doing some quick reactions to questions we have about the future of the Steelers following this monumental moment in the team’s history. R&R will then be taking the next month off as we prepare to return bi-monthly during the offseason, starting in late February with our annual offseason blueprints.
Be sure to let us know your reactions to the following questions in the comments, and keep your eyes out for Mailbag callouts in The Feed while we’re on break.
Now, let’s dive in.
Gut reaction to Tomlin moving on?
RP: Bittersweet, but necessary and overdue. I hope in time we can come move past some of the bitter frustrations and once again appreciate Tomlin’s accomplishments and career in Pittsburgh. He’s at the center of a lot of good memories, at least in my fandom. But it was time. I’m excited to see the Steelers reset and enter a new era with new personalities and new opportunities. There might be some lean years ahead for the fanbase, but things can also change quickly in the NFL. It feels like anything can happen, and that’s refreshing.
RB: Tomlin is a future Hall of Famer. Don’t get it twisted. I think it was time to move on, but I’m glad he went out on his own terms. That said, there’s reason to be both excited for the future and concerned about the direction the team chooses next.
Is “The Steelers Way” set to change under a new head coach?
RB: Many tenets of the so-called “Steelers Way” have been broken in recent seasons, even while Tomlin was head coach, so I don’t think this is a huge deal. It was always an abstract concept, anyway. It will be interesting, however, to see if facets of the team change now that they’re without Tomlin’s influence.
RP: “The Steeler Way” isn’t really something tangible to me. Every team wants to win games and physically dominate their opponents on both sides of the ball. That’s just football. There’s more than one way to win a football game, and ultimately “the Steelers Way” will be whatever gets them back to competing for titles. And yeah, it’ll probably involve good defense and a solid run game.
What are the biggest changes to the team’s philosophy to expect post-Tomlin?
RP: I think who the Steelers hire as Tomlin’s replacement will have a lot to say about that. For now, we can expect Omar Khan to remain general manager, so there is likely to be some continuity in regards to building in the trenches. How much of a reset on the roster will occur? We don’t have those answers just yet.
RB: Agreed. It all depends on who the new head coach is. I hope to see some modernizations to the scheme and an improved run of assistant hires. But we’ll have to wait to learn the specifics.
What kind of head coach are the Steelers likely looking for?
RB: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin were all defensive coordinators in their 30s when they were hired by Pittsburgh. But precedent isn’t the end-all, be-all when the team last conducted a head coaching search in 2007. Tomlin also left big shoes to fill when it came to leadership; I’m willing to bet the Steelers will be caring about far more than just schematic chops in the hiring process. And the first batch of interviews seems to be focusing on candidates who could have a good mix of both, which is exciting news.
RP: Art Rooney II has said previously that Tomlin’s personality stood out to him during his initial job interview, and that encounter completely changed Rooney’s preconceived notions about what kind of coach he was looking for. Rooney will tell us the usual: he’s looking for a leader of men; someone with a bold and confident personality; someone who reflects the ethos of the city he’ll represent. The fact of the matter is that’s a hard thing to quantify, and we’ll have to trust Rooney’s sensibilities. I expect the coach might be on the younger side, but time will tell.
If you had to guess now, who is the Steelers’ head coach in 2026?
RP: I don’t have any inside info, but the three names that feel right in my gut right now are: Chris Shula, Jesse Minter, or Brian Flores. My guess is as good as yours, but those three just feel like “Steelers guys” in spirit. For my money, I think I’m bought in on the ticket of Shula as head coach and Nate Scheelhaase as the OC. If not that pairing, I’m ok with Minter and Flores too.
RB: Shula or Flores are at the top of my predictions list as well, and Minter certainly wouldn’t be a shock. Interview requests have clarified the Steelers are looking at the expected names. My gut feeling is that it will be a defensive-minded coach, but I don’t have any confident ideas at the moment.
Who on the Steelers’ current coaching staff do you want to stick around under the new staff?
RB: Arthur Smith, Teryl Austin, and Pat Meyer all had some strong moments in 2025, but nothing that should prevent the new head coach from building a new staff that better fits the vision. That said, the Steelers have some quality assistants who deserve to stick around and help with stability. I wouldn’t mind seeing Danny Smith back, as well.
RP: Tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts predates Tomlin (been on staff 22 years) and the Steelers have had some damn good tight end play over that time. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has a job as long as he’s physically up to it in my book. Defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander is a coach I’ve heard has a good reputation, and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar has also guided the development of some quality players for 18 years. Maybe running backs coach Eddie Faulkner. But if the new coach wants to clean house, can’t really blame them.
How does the Steelers job rank among available NFL head coach openings right now?
RB: The Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Browns, Raiders, Dolphins, Giants, and Titans will be competing with the Steelers for the cream of the coaching crop this offseason. With Lamar Jackson, the Ravens probably have the clearest championship potential, although the team is far from flawless. For offensive-minded coaches, jobs like the Falcons, Raiders (No. 1 pick), Giants, and Titans have potential franchise quarterbacks that will make them especially appealing. But the Steelers’ past success and stable ownership stand far above the rest. Candidates will have different preferences, but Pittsburgh is clearly one of the top jobs available, even if it’s not a clear No. 1 option.
RP: It depends on what you prioritize. If you like stability and a supportive ownership team, then it’s got to be near the top, if not the top. If you’re looking for a roster you can quickly turn into a title contender, they are in one of the worst positions with no clear answer for the quarterback position for the upcoming season. Still there are some young pieces to work with, and I think that puts them in a better position than teams like Arizona, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Miami that also have no answer under center.
What positions get prioritized in the draft?
RP: Wide receiver in the first two days, or the city might riot. The secondary needs work, the trenches could always use depth, and linebacker is likely a sneaky need, too. So… best player available?
RB: Yup. Highlight, circle, italicize, bold, etc. – it’s wide receiver and then everything else (although it may not be the first-round pick). I’ll add a depth offensive lineman to Ryan’s list as well. We’ll get more clarity on this quarterback class in the coming months, but a gamble – even if it’s Day 3 – on the position could and likely should be in the cards as well.
Will the Steelers’ free agency plan look any different from last year?
RB: Tomlin clearly had a strong influence on the Steelers’ roster plan, with signings over the years that felt like “Tomlin guys” as well as a number of veterans – Aaron Rodgers, most recently – who made it clear the Steelers’ coach was a main draw to joining the team. In that sense, there will likely be some differences, even though I doubt it will be anything drastic or even that obvious from the outside. The roster needs before Tomlin left were the same as they are now.
RP: I don’t really expect it to, no. I think the Steelers might make more moves this year, but they won’t be splashy signings, mostly because this is a pretty underwhelming free agent class in terms of star power. George Pickens has already appeared as the best available player on Bleacher Report’s and CBS Sports’ rankings of upcoming free agents. That reunion isn’t gonna happen, but it gives you an idea of the talent pool, and it quickly falls off after the former Steeler. The secondary, linebacker, and receiver could all get some looks from Pittsburgh. Watch the market for receiver Alec Pierce.
How does this affect Omar Khan? Is he off the leash? Or on a hot seat?
RP: I don’t know how for sure how the Rooneys feel, but if we believe the team didn’t force Tomlin out, then I have to imagine Khan’s job is safe. And frankly, I think it should be. Khan has shown enough of a knack in the draft, and his free agent acquisitions and trades have been in tandem with what Tomlin wanted — both the hits and the misses. I don’t think he’ll go full “off leash,” but he’s been more aggressive in free agency and with trades than Kevin Colbert ever was, so I’m encouraged that he’ll at the very least take some calculated big swings for the next coach.
RB: I’ve largely been a fan of Omar Khan’s approach as GM, but there’s no denying his rosters have had a handful of major flaws in recent years. But after he signed an extension through 2028 over the summer it was clear the team was going to give him some time to build a long-term plan and eventually settle on a franchise quarterback. If he hasn’t solved that issue by then, I’d expect the seat to be hot. But there’s a lot of time until 2028 and the team’s ownership hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to make a change at GM, for good reason.
Will the “old guard” on the Steelers want out with Mike Tomlin now gone?
RB: This does become unprecedented territory for the Steelers veterans that have never had any NFL head coach other than Tomlin. But I don’t see T.J. Watt dramatically forcing his way out or anything. Still – and this is highly dependent on the front office’s stance as well – if names such as Cam Heyward and Aaron Rodgers are on the fence when it comes to a potential retirement, losing Tomlin might push them towards leaving this offseason rather than dealing with a regime change this late in their careers.
RP: I don’t know these men’s hearts, so anything is possible. But it would make sense for Cam Heyward to retire, especially if the Steelers are unwilling to budge on his already contentious contract. Beyond him and Watt, who would you even consider the old guard at this point?
Is T.J. Watt now on the trade block?
RP: Theoretically, but good luck getting any real value with that contract. Watt is a 32-year-old speed rusher who’s been hurt and regressed the past two seasons. I think there’s still some quality seasons left on the tires, but he’s not a player I think other teams are lining up to trade anything more than a Day 3 pick for. Last year was the time to trade him, and the Steelers instead committed to a Last Dance with Tomlin and Rodgers.
RB: If I’m Omar Khan I’d listen to offers but it’s hard to see the Steelers or a prospective trade partner benefitting much given Watt’s age, current production, and massive contract. Pittsburgh could possibly get a good pick if the team ate some of Watt’s $42 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons, but at that point it might just be worth more to keep his still-quality play around. Never say never, but I don’t expect the Steelers to be actively shopping Watt at all.
Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia, or email us at steelersreadnreact@gmail.com.
