NFC defensive coordinator named top Steelers head coach candidate to replace Mike Tomlin

It is a historic day in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers' franchise.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler, head coach Tomlin is stepping down from his position after 19 seasons. The Steelers fell to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round on Monday.

"Breaking: After a historic 19-season run in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin just informed his team that he is stepping down as the Steelers head coach," Schefter reported.

The Steelers will have a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. There are a plethora of head coaching candidates on the market that Pittsburgh will be interested in, but AllSportsPeople' Vinnie Iyer believes an NFC defensive coordinator is the top option to replace Tomlin.

Iyer lists Vikings' defensive coordinator Brian Flores as the best candidate to take over for Tomlin in Pittsburgh.

"Flores got his NFL coaching career righted when he worked as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach under Tomlin in Pittsburgh in 2022. That followed his tumultuous tenure with the Dolphins and preceded his ace work calling plays for the Vikings. Flores would make a lot of sense for a more seasoned return."

Flores has served as Minnesota's defensive coordinator since 2023 and led the unit to top-10 scoring finishes in 2024 and 2025. He was also the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021, posting a 24-25 record.

If the Steelers want to continue hiring defensive coaches, Flores would be their best bet. He's already receiving head coaching interest from other teams in this year's cycle, and is one of the most respected defensive minds in football.