The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to embark on an extremely unique 2026 offseason. The franchise is looking for a new head coach for the first time since the 2007 offseason when the team hired Mike Tomlin. News broke that Tomlin would be stepping down as the head coach of the Steelers on Tuesday, and fans have been speculating about who could step in and be the new head coach in Pittsburgh. Team President and Owner Art Rooney II has already ruled out an internal hire, which likely means that both Arthur Smith and Teryl Austin will not be with the team during the 2026 season.
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Steelers Owner Art Rooney II (left) and former Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) oversee practice during the 2021 minicamp in Pittsburgh.
The 2026 offseason is a monumental one for Pittsburgh. The organization will once again be trying to figure out the quarterback situation, and a new head coach will also be hired. Pittsburgh has traditionally gone with a defensive-minded head coach, and coaches that fit that mold have been discussed to fill Tomlin's shoes in Pittsburgh.
Benjamin Allbright, who is an insider for the Denver Broncos, but is fairly tapped into the entirety of the NFL, has repeatedly mentioned Robert Saleh's name when it comes to the head coaching vacancy in Pittsburgh.
"Wouldn’t be surprised to see Robert Saleh get a strong look for the Pittsburgh job," Allbright said on X.
Saleh has been a head coach before, which is something that the past three head coaches in Pittsburgh do not have in common with the young defensive coordinator. He coached the New York Jets from 2021 through the first part of the 2024 season before being fired. He is much maligned for his time with the Jets, but many believe he was a good coach that was stuck in a bad situation.
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49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh before a home game in San Francisco.
Saleh dealt with a media circus in New York, and things certainly did not go well. However, he did find a little bit of success with Jets. He led his team to a 7-10 record during the 2023 season which is somewhat impressive considering Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in the first game. There were signs of Saleh being a good leader, but it is difficult to coach in a media market like New York, especially with a polarizing figure like Rodgers at quarterback.
Saleh was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers before being hired in New York, and he returned to that job during the 2025 offseason. The defensive side of the ball has been extremely beat up for San Francisco, yet he still has his group playing well. San Francisco was in contention for the one-seed in the NFC going into Week 18, and the team is still in the playoffs as they are currently preparing for the Divisional Round.
If Pittsburgh has any interest in interviewing Saleh, and it sounds like the organization does according to Allbright, the franchise is going to have to wait until the 49ers are eliminated from the postseason. If the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh would be able to interview Saleh during the bye week leading up to the big game.
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Robert Saleh during his time as the head coach of the New York Jets during the 2023 season.
Steelers Can Provide Stability That Robert Saleh Has Not Had As A Head Coach
Saleh went through a lot in New York, and Pittsburgh is a much more stable organization. This can make life easier on a head coach, which is why Saleh should be considered. If he were to be hired, a lot of the fan base would probably talk down on the move due to his time with the Jets, but it is important to understand everything that went on in New York. The owner and general manager were not on the same page, the media was attacking everything that came from the organization, and the entire quarterback situation was not in a good spot.
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