Steelers Set To Crush Fans' Dreams With Next Move At Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an odd spot as a franchise as they are attempting to try and figure out both the present and the future. Many on the outside of the organization would like to see the team start looking to stabilize the quarterback position. Pittsburgh could have spent the past couple of years rebuilding both sides of the ball while collecting high-end talent near the top of the NFL Draft, but instead the franchise has continued to compete and build around their core players. Pittsburgh doesn't have much to show for it as a playoff game has not been won by the Steelers in nearly a decade, which has most of the fan base fed up with the coaching staff.

After Pittsburgh got embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 13, it seemed like the sky was falling. It was the first time that it truly felt like Head Coach Mike Tomlin might be on his way out of Pittsburgh, but he of course bounced back and found a way to take down the Baltimore Ravens on the road the following week. The bit of success is nice, but the organization wants to see the Steelers advance in the playoffs, and there could still be a chance that the Steelers and Tomlin part ways after the 2025 season if that doesn't happen this year. 

Insider Gerry Dulac was recently asked in his chat on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette if the team would pursue an offensive-minded head coach when the times comes, but he expects more of the same.

"Well, their last three head-coaching hires were all defensive guys, and how has that worked out?" Dulac asked.

Pittsburgh has famously only had three head coaches since 1969, which is unheard of in the NFL. Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls during his time as the head coach, Bill Cowher won one while going to two, and Tomlin has also won one while going to two. Those are considered extremely successful tenures even though Pittsburgh fans are always going to want more trophies.

The three head coaches the Steelers have hired since 1969 have all been defensive-minded coaches, which is why Dulac questioned whether or not the organization would suddenly switch things up now. Pittsburgh has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of the league, it has no reason to change the way it approaches certain things, but it's heavily argued that it should. The league is an offensive league now. The Steelers have been years behind the rest of the league in that space, and if Tomlin gets removed as head coach, it will be the organization's chance to take a step forward offensively.

The best teams play complementary football, however there has been a trend when it comes to Super Bowl winning head coaches in recent years. Nearly all are offensive-minded. Andy Reid has a lot to do with that, but the same is true about Nick Sirianni with the Philadelphia Eagles. Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams and Bruce Arians with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not to mention Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers representing the NFC in two Super Bowls.

The pattern is clear, and the way the league has been acting makes it obvious that things are trending towards the offensive side of the ball. Nearly every new rule that is implemented helps offensive players while making the jobs of defender even harder. The way forward is an offensive-minded head coach, and Pittsburgh needs to adapt to what is happening in the NFL around it. 

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Still Has Job Security

Tomlin's contract runs through the 2027 season, although the organization does have an option on the final year of the deal that would need to be picked up or declined by March 1st of the 2026 offseason. Things could set up for 2026 to be Tomlin's final season with the team, or if things go horribly wrong throughout the rest of 2025, he could be let go during the 2026 offseason. Either way, many within the fan base want to move on. 

Do you trust the organization to hire a new head coach soon? Let us know in the comments below!

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