The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in an unfamiliar position going into the 2026 offseason.
That unfamiliar position is having to hire a head coach. With Mike Tomlin having resigned, the Steelers will be hiring just their fourth head coach since 1969.
The Steelers have already begun the process by requesting interviews with several candidates. Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicts Pittsburgh will ultimately land on Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Brian Flores.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers have an identity that they likely want to stick with, which is demonstrated by owner Art Rooney II dismissing the idea of a rebuild under the next head coach," Johnson wrote. "Seeking to fill the void left by Mike Tomlin’s resignation, defensive coordinator Brian Flores feels like the right fit for Pittsburgh. He spent a year with the Steelers in 2022 as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, so he would likely have Tomlin’s endorsement. Furthermore, his outstanding track record as a defensive play-caller can carry over to Pittsburgh and return this franchise to its identity of winning with defense first. As long as he is willing to be flexible with the offensive side of the next Steelers coaching staff, this hire feels very possible."
A Bill Belichick disciple, Flores has served in many roles during his coaching career and is as qualified for a head-coach gig as they come
The Steelers are slated for an in-person interview with Flores this week, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Flores is "certainly a candidate to consider."
That's because, as Rapoport notes, Flores has ties to the Steelers after he was on Tomlin's staff in 2022, and he has the "respect inside the building" from players, which will help make the transition from Tomlin smoother.
Flores also somewhat fits the mold of the last three head coaches the Steelers have hired, all of whom were defensive-minded. And, he has a history of success calling defenses after the Vikings sported one of the better units in the NFL on his watch.
The big differences between Flores and Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin is that Flores is older than each when they took the job, and he has past head-coaching experience after leading the Miami Dolphins for three seasons, two of which he posted a winning record in.
But we don't think those differences are going to stop the Steelers from hiring Flores, who we could totally see landing in Pittsburgh.
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