Ben Roethlisberger Makes His Dream Pick For Steelers' Next Head Coach Clear

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to feel and look like a much different team now that, long-time head coach, Mike Tomlin has stepped away. After 19 seasons, Tomlin, at the age of 53, has chosen to focus his attention outside of coaching. Early in his career, he experienced significant success, including a Super Bowl victory, but the last decade saw the team struggle to make a deep playoff run. In fact, Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, marking a noticeable gap in postseason achievements despite consistently strong regular season performances.

Now, the Steelers face the challenge of finding their next head coach, a decision that will shape the franchise’s direction for years to come. The organization will be looking for someone who can maintain the team’s competitive edge while also bringing fresh ideas and strategies to the field. With Tomlin’s departure leaving big shoes to fill, expectations for the new hire will be high, both from fans and the front office.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently shared his thoughts on the coaching search while speaking on his podcast, Footbahlin, on Wednesday. Roethlisberger laid out his "dream scenario," emphasizing the kind of leadership and approach he believes would best serve the team moving forward. His insight provides a glimpse into what many in the Steelers community hope to see in the next era of Pittsburgh football.

"Do you go even a veteran like a Kirby Smart? Is there someone there that I think... an ideal perfect hire would be Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame," Roethlisberger said while speaking on his podcast. "He is a young guy, new, fresh, someone that the guys would respect and stuff, but he is not leaving Notre Dame, let's just be honest."

Steelers fans always love to hear what Roethlisberger has to say about all the hot-button issues. This is the biggest one yet, and though it has been discussed a lot, it still feels surreal to know that Tomlin is no longer the head coach of the Steelers.

Roethlisberger has become fixated on the idea of the Steelers hiring Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman. He also floated the idea of Georgia’s Kirby Smart, though that doesn’t seem like a realistically feasible option. While neither choice seems entirely practical, Roethlisberger clearly likes both ideas and is excited about the possibilities they represent for the franchise.

"I think that is probably just a pipe dream though," Roethlisberger said.

Hiring a coach out of the college ranks is always risky, as that transition has not always panned out for even some of the greatest college minds. There have been a few outliers, of course, but success is far from guaranteed. 

Roethlisberger posed a lot of questions while discussing the situation. He is very curious to see which direction the Steelers will take, wondering whether they will choose an offensive-minded coach or a defensive-minded one. He knows there are plenty of exciting options available and is eager to see which path his former team will choose. Roethlisberger also expects the decision to come relatively quickly.

Steelers Have Already Begun Requesting Interviews For Their Next Head Coaching Hire

Meanwhile, the Steelers have already begun requesting interviews for their next head coaching hire, signaling that they may be more interested in someone with existing NFL experience.

Freeman has also publicly doubled down on his stance, denying that he would take any NFL job. He has made it clear that he is not leaving the Fighting Irish, which complicates Roethlisberger’s hopes of seeing him become the next Steelers head coach.

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