The Pittsburgh Steelers are not in the market for a new head coach now or possibly anytime soon. One of the legendary franchise's claims to fame is the lack of turnover at the position, with only Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin holding the title of Head Coach in Pittsburgh since 1969. Tomlin is under contract until the end of the 2024 season and has been rumored to be extended since July. If and when the Super Bowl-winning coach decides to call it a career, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio thinks a possible next candidate is already on the roster.
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Steelers defensive leader Cam Heyward has had a great mentor in Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
Heyward has spent a significant portion of the 2023 season on the shelf with a groin injury suffered against the San Francisco 49ers, likely linked to a core muscle ailment he was nursing in training camp. During his stint on the injured reserve list, Heyward has consistently been on the sidelines during games, offering his insight to players to help them. Florio said during a segment on Thursday morning's Pro Football Talk Live that while he was watching Pittsburgh play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, he saw the 13-year NFL veteran doing what he said looked like some coaching of the team.
"You can tell just how a guy carries himself on the sideline if he's head coaching material," Florio said. "You have to look the part and exude the right demeanor. You have to have your s***t together. There was just something at that moment when I saw Cam Heyward and I thought that guy is going to be a head coach in the NFL one of these days."
Florio said the most significant extenuating circumstance is that he's got to want to take on the job, but he said he's already shown him all the qualities he needs to see from a head coach. He added that after following the league for over 50 years, he knows a future NFL head coach when he sees one, and Heyward fits the bill.
He added that Heyward would probably have to work his way up the coaching ranks and serve as an assistant in some capacity to fully learn the game from that perspective. If he's willing to do that, Florio doesn't see any reason why the longtime captain couldn't make the transition.
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Steelers' Cam Heyward and TJ Watt pause for a break during the 2022 training camp.
Lots of former players have made the jump from player to coach. One of the most controversial leaps from a former star player in an organization to Head Coach was in the 2022 season when the Indianapolis Colts relieved Frank Reich, a longtime backup quarterback in the NFL before becoming a coach, of his duties and brought in former three-time All-Pro center Jeff Saturday to take over.
The move was eviscerated by Cowher at the time on CBS where he serves as an analyst. Cowher played parts of four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles before, he transitioned into coaching. Both he and Reich had to bide time as assistant coaches before they got a shot at being head coach. He called Saturday's hiring a disgrace to the coaching profession because the former center for Peyton Manning jumped from spending no time as a subordinate coach in college or the pros to running his own NFL bench.
If Heyward truly does want to be an NFL head coach someday, he will have to pay his dues as an assistant or an intern first to come by the job honestly.
Former Steelers Are No Stranger To The Coaching Fraternity
There's a good deal of former Steelers players who have tried their hand at coaching after their NFL careers ended on the field. Receiver Hines Ward is currently the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL and has previously worked in different coaching capacities for the New York Jets and Florida Atlantic Owls. Joey Porter Sr. served as a defensive assistant in Pittsburgh before becoming the outside linebacker coach. He has also worked with his former teammate Ward in San Antonio.
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Steelers great Joe Greene turned to coaching after his successful playing career.
One of the greatest to ever wear the black and gold translated his success as a player into a long coaching career that started in Pittsburgh. Joe Greene joined Noll's staff as a defensive line coach in 1987 and was with Pittsburgh until 1991. He served in the same capacity with the Miami Dolphins from 1991 to 1995 and was an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 1996-2003. He rejoined Pittsburgh in a player personnel capacity after retiring from coaching.
There's certainly a history of players from the organization moving into a coaching role of some kind after they retire. Heyward seems to have the qualities needed to do that if he chooses to follow in the footsteps of some of those named above.
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