Steelers Make Aggressive Move to Replace Mike Tomlin, Eyeing Two Rams Coordinators in Early Search
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially kicked off their search for a new head coach following the shocking departure of Mike Tomlin, who leaves behind a 19-season tenure and a .628 winning percentage – the highest in franchise history. In a bold move, the Steelers have already submitted formal requests to interview two key members of the Los Angeles Rams' coaching staff: Nate Scheelhaase, the team's pass-game coordinator, and Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator.
Scheelhaase, 35, has been instrumental in shaping the Rams' passing concepts, which led the league in both passing yards and scoring during the 2025 season. The former college quarterback at Illinois brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously served as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State.
Shula, 39, has also established himself as one of the NFL's top up-and-coming defensive play-callers after being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024. His unit produced strong situational results, particularly in the red zone and goal-to-go situations, and he has emerged leaguewide as a sought-after candidate.
The Steelers' aggressive pursuit of Rams' coordinators suggests they are eager to find a head coach who can replicate Tomlin's success. With a 10-7 regular season record and AFC North title under their belt, the Steelers are in need of a new leader to guide them into the postseason.
While the Rams continue to navigate the playoffs, the Steelers have jumped the gun by initiating their coaching search while the team remains active in the postseason. This bold move speaks volumes about the Steelers' commitment to finding a suitable replacement for Tomlin and restoring the franchise's winning ways.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially kicked off their search for a new head coach following the shocking departure of Mike Tomlin, who leaves behind a 19-season tenure and a .628 winning percentage – the highest in franchise history. In a bold move, the Steelers have already submitted formal requests to interview two key members of the Los Angeles Rams' coaching staff: Nate Scheelhaase, the team's pass-game coordinator, and Chris Shula, the defensive coordinator.
Scheelhaase, 35, has been instrumental in shaping the Rams' passing concepts, which led the league in both passing yards and scoring during the 2025 season. The former college quarterback at Illinois brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously served as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State.
Shula, 39, has also established himself as one of the NFL's top up-and-coming defensive play-callers after being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024. His unit produced strong situational results, particularly in the red zone and goal-to-go situations, and he has emerged leaguewide as a sought-after candidate.
The Steelers' aggressive pursuit of Rams' coordinators suggests they are eager to find a head coach who can replicate Tomlin's success. With a 10-7 regular season record and AFC North title under their belt, the Steelers are in need of a new leader to guide them into the postseason.
While the Rams continue to navigate the playoffs, the Steelers have jumped the gun by initiating their coaching search while the team remains active in the postseason. This bold move speaks volumes about the Steelers' commitment to finding a suitable replacement for Tomlin and restoring the franchise's winning ways.
... seem like they're gonna overpay or underpay depending on what they offer scheelhaase & shula 
... tomlin was a legend, how can they replace him? not to mention, rams coaches might be leaving because of the way their team fell apart in playoffs... steelers fans are always so optimistic 
... this is gonna be an interesting saga 
They're basically stealing their guys from the Rams mid-season, which might leave them feeling betrayed. I mean, can you imagine how frustrating that would be for players who just started with the team 
. On the other hand, if they do end up finding a great coach, it could be a huge advantage for the Steelers... but let's hope they play it cool and don't rock the boat too much 
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nate & chris both seem solid choices tho...but what if they're makin' a mistake by goin after ppl from another team? 
... thinkin of mike tomlin leavin all those years he build such a great team, now they gotta find someone new to lead 'em i feel bad 4 him, been with the team 2 long 
but shula & scheelhaase sound like good candidates might just be what pittsburg needs 2 get back on track 
. But at the same time, it makes sense that they'd want someone who can take them to the next level - Tomlin was a legend and it's hard to fill his shoes 
. I hope whoever ends up getting the job is awesome though, because we need some stability in Pittsburgh 
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! They're basically poaching someone from the other side of town? I mean, I get it, they wanna replicate that success under Tomlin, but doesn't that just look like a mess? 
. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Do they think these guys are gonna just up and leave the Rams for the Steelers? 
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, can't even get a coach without jumping into the playoffs like the Steelers are trying to sabotage their own chances? They're basically sending a message that they don't trust their own players or system. And what's with these Rams coordinators they're after? Scheelhaase and Shula sound like decent hires, but it's just not the same as finding someone from within the organization... 
It's like they're trying to make sure nobody else has a chance 
They must really want someone with a strong "we'll do whatever it takes to win" vibe. 
Still gonna be interesting to see how this plays out... probably not for the better 