Report: Steelers Have Had Internal Discussions About Replacing Mike Tomlin With Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman

The Pittsburgh Steelers are at a bit of a crossroads as the 2025 regular season gets set to finish up. It could get even more confusing if the team falls at home to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. It will be the second consecutive year that the AFC North division rival ended Mike Tomlin and co's season, which is never acceptable in the Steel City. While it remains unlikely that Owner Art Rooney II will decide to part ways with the 19-year veteran head coach, it's not out of the realm of possibility for the future Hall of Famer to walk away and take a step back from the NFL for a year or two.

In the event that Tomlin decided to take a break from the sidelines, he could become the most attractive available individual on the market. With that said, he could also choose to take a year or two to enjoy a commentating job or simply relax. Overall, that is a common argument when national media members discuss Tomlin leaving Pittsburgh: that he would be a top-tier candidate.

What consistently fails to get mentioned in that discussion is that the Steelers would also immediately become the top head-coaching availability in all of sports. Despite not having a franchise quarterback currently, there have only been three coaches with the franchise since 1969. That's a signal of commitment and job security, which could make any big name be curious about the position.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini gave fans an in-depth look at what she is hearing as the NFL gets ready to kick off Week 18. The insider mentioned the Steelers just once in her Saturday morning article, but it was a significant report that will generate plenty of interest.

"Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman seriously considered making the jump to the NFL, with multiple teams reaching out to gauge his interest, according to league sources," Russini wrote. "Though Freeman ultimately announced he’s staying at Notre Dame, there’s a strong belief around the league that this won’t be the last time his name is connected to NFL opportunities. The Giants, Titans and Browns all had internal discussions about Freeman, as did the Pittsburgh Steelers (in the event longtime coach Mike Tomlin decided to step away)."

Marcus Freeman is a polished collegiate coach who has done a phenomenal job at Notre Dame. There have been rumors for a little while now about him making the jump to professional football. Now, it seems as if the Steelers are one of the organizations that are genuinely interested in him.

It was recently reported that Freeman will return to Notre Dame for the 2026 season, as he pretty much announced it on his own via social media, specifically because of all the murmurs regarding his future.

A lot can change from early January to February, but it seems as if Freeman will be staying in South Bend for at least another season. If the Steelers decide not to pick up Tomlin's option for the 2027 campaign, he could be entering 2026 as a lame duck, which would make things all the more interesting. Overall, Freeman is now officially someone to watch when and if Pittsburgh does have to replace Tomlin soon.

Steelers Won't Take Their Next Head-Coaching Search Lightly

If Pittsburgh finally does need to find a replacement for Tomlin, it will be done diligently. The franchise prides itself on loyalty and it still is remarkable that only three individuals have had the honors of leading the locker room dating back to the late 1960s. Whoever comes in one day to become the fourth in that timeframe will have to convince leadership that plenty of success and championships will be celebrated in the near future.

Do you think that the Steelers should target Freeman one day? Let us know in the comments below!

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