Three days after Mike Tomlin's resignation, the Pittsburgh Steelers have kicked off virtual interviews with eight candidates for their head coaching vacancy and plan to add more, amid priorities like quarterback decisions and key player extensions. Owner Art Rooney II seeks a successor to usher in a new era while honoring Tomlin's legacy of 19 winless seasons.
Following Mike Tomlin's resignation on January 14, 2026—detailed in our prior coverage—the Steelers have accelerated their head coaching search, requesting interviews with eight candidates: defensive coordinators Chris Shula (Rams), Anthony Weaver (Dolphins), Jeff Hafley (Packers), Ejiro Evero (Panthers), Brian Flores (Vikings), and Jesse Minter (Chargers), plus offensive coordinators Nate Scheelhaase (Rams) and Klay Kubiak (49ers). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac reports the team will add three or four more names soon, such as Seattle's Klint Kubiak, 49ers DC Robert Saleh, or Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy.
Virtual interviews began immediately and are set to continue over the next week, marking a more expansive process than the five-candidate search that hired Tomlin in 2007. Beat reporter Ray Fittipaldo notes key offseason tasks, including re-signing MVP running back Kenneth Gainwell and extending rookie deals for Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington, and Nick Herbig.
Challenges loom, with former Steelers safety Ryan Clark forecasting a losing 2026 record due to an aging Aaron Rodgers, 28 free agents, uncertainty around Cam Heyward's potential retirement (50-50 odds per Fittipaldo), and questions about T.J. Watt's future production. Rooney emphasized continuity and the need for a quarterback solution in the post-Tomlin era.