Steelers' Replacement For Teryl Austin May Suddenly Become Available After Serious Questions Arise In NFC South

No one really knows what could potentially happen with the Pittsburgh Steelers if the team loses to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday evening. It is wildly believed that Head Coach Mike Tomlin will have to walk away on his own if a big change is to be made in that area, but that doesn't mean a defeat won't lead to firings and scapegoats. Someone at the very top of that list could be Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, who has led a unit that could be labeled as one of the NFL's most inconsistent over the course of his four-year tenure with the title.

After the 2023 season, Austin's contract had expired, but the Steelers gave him a two-year deal to stay on the staff as the defensive play-caller. He may not be so lucky if Pittsburgh's 2025 campaign comes to an end versus the Ravens. There is no doubt that the decision could be made to move on from him, which would then put Tomlin — if he decides to remain in the Steel City — in a position to either promote internally once again, or bring in an external candidate.

There will be plenty of younger and flashy potential hires thrown into the mix amongst the fan base, but that's not how Tomlin has typically operated. If the decision-makers did want to evaluate experienced and proven coaches, a current head coach could be looking for a new job in the coming weeks, and maybe even in the coming days.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk often dives into coaching situations throughout the league, and on Saturday morning, the insider wrote about the upcoming decision the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have to make in regards to Head Coach Todd Bowles.

"One name that has become more conspicuous down the homestretch of the season is Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles," Florio wrote. "At a time when few clear and obvious separations seem to be coming (the Raiders and Pete Carroll are the most evident), others who may be on the way out may also not be on the way out. And Bowles falls squarely into that category. Maybe he’s safe, maybe he’s not."

It remains a mystery, but a Buccaneers loss to the Carolina Panthers may give ownership no other choice in Tampa. Bowles would then be a top defensive coordinator candidate due to his near-three-decade experience in the NFL. His name wouldn't be exhilarating by any stretch of the means, but it would be a safe and non-risky hire in the grand scheme of things. If Tomlin was the one making this hypothetical decision, it would not surprise anyone if Bowles was in the running.

Bowles has only eclipsed 10 wins one time during his stint as the Buccaneers' head coach. While the organization has celebrated several NFC South championships in a row, there hasn't been too much exciting going on, and the conference is extremely competitive. Sometimes a front office's hands are tied, and Tampa losing to Carolina on Saturday afternoon may lead to a parting of ways.

It seems to be increasingly more likely that Austin will not have his contract renewed come the official end of the Steelers' season, and that will mean a search would be ongoing for Pittsburgh's next defensive play-caller. Additionally, if Tomlin were to decide that he wants to take some time off from coaching, that will open up a whole new host of challenges in the Steel City.

Steelers Have A Bunch Of Questions Heading Into Sunday's Big Season Finale

Austin's status will certainly be something that will be discussed if Pittsburgh loses to Baltimore, but Tomlin has to make a decision on his future first. The biggest focus will be a new defensive coordinator; that is, unless the head coaching spot has a vacancy. A lot hinges on what happens in the AFC North title game on Sunday Night Football. Additionally, the big NFC South contest could bring a new name into the mix for the Steelers.

Do you think that the Steelers would target Bowles as a possible defensive coordinator? Let us know in the comments below!

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