The Pittsburgh Steelers stole plenty of headlines from other NFL franchises when Mike Tomlin decided to step down from his post as the team's head coach. The vacancy immediately jumped to the top of the available jobs list; not because there is a definitive long-term plan in place, but due to the stability and loyalty the organization has proven to have since 1969. Despite the national interest in what is going on in the Steel City, pretty much the entire AFC North has questions. The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are also trying to find a promising mind to lead their respective locker rooms in 2026 and beyond.
Terrance Williams / Associated Press
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta stands on the field and looks in the distance while the team warms up prior to competing in a professional football game.
The Ravens are expected to get an ideal candidate, with the team having a franchise quarterback in place and history of winning in the 21st century. The Browns, on the other hand, have a pretty unique situation. Not only is the future at signal-caller in question, but the organization has also been one of the least consistent and most unstable throughout the last 25 years.
News is starting to come to light about Cleveland and how unideal of a position it just may be. Reports have surfaced that candidates are literally declining to speak with the Browns. If one of the more sought out individuals has looks elsewhere, it appears as if those coaches are not even going to waste the time of the Steelers' AFC North rival.
Per @SportsBoyTony, the Browns reached out to Chris Shula and were told "No thanks at this time."
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) January 22, 2026
I think the Browns have had more rejections than interviews conducted so far. Andy Berry is doing a stellar job, as expected.
Not only did one of Pittsburgh's top interviewees in Chris Shula pass on the opportunity to speak with Cleveland, but former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, along with Jesse Minter and John Harbaugh, said "no thanks" to the Browns.
Four coaches have reportedly turned down the Browns Head Coaching job:
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) January 22, 2026
• Rams DC Chris Shula
• New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel
• Chargers DC Jesse Minter
• New Giants HC John Harbaugh pic.twitter.com/5dbCC50vil
The lack of commitment and inability to build a talented all-around roster is seriously affecting the Browns' attempts to hire a top-notch coach to lead the way. Cleveland's only claim to fame in the 21st century is defeating Pittsburgh in a 2020 postseason contest, but it's clear that when it comes to finding a new head coach, the Steelers are still much more favored, as Shula and Minter had interest after accepting interview requests.
Tony Dejak / Associated Press
Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry stands at a podium while he fields questions and answers them in front of the media.
General Manager Andrew Berry probably should not have been retained once the organization made the decision to fire Kevin Stefanski, but that didn't end up happening. Now, he is struggling to get legitimate candidates in the building for what will be the more important hire of his career. Things will continue to go south in Cleveland if its reputation doesn't change soon.
It will be interesting to see who ends up being the guy for the Browns, but it is not going well overall. The team was nowhere close to the postseason, and has had weeks to dive deep into many different names and personalities. Unfortunately for those fans in Cleveland, the truth of the matter is that top-of-the-line candidates have no interest in being there.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry hangs out with former head coach Kevin Stefanski in an office at the team's facility.
Steelers Fans Will Continue To Laugh At The Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh certainly has some things to fix on its end, but at least intriguing names are doing their due diligence on the opening in the Steel City. Having a total of four coaches decline, or simply pass, on interview requests is a terrible look. Cleveland has some serious issues to work through, and there's no doubt that no one will be surprised if the team finishes last in the AFC North once again in 2026.
Do you think that the Steelers are much better off than the Browns when it comes to long-term future? Let us know in the comments below!
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