The Pittsburgh Steelers are still considering San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak as part of their head coaching search, but they will not be able to hire him as an offensive coordinator if he doesn't land the head job.
The Steelers have considered nine candidates for their head coaching job, and six of them have been sitting defensive coordinators. Two of the three offensive candidates are also the least-experienced ones of the bunch, with Kubiak a first-year offensive coordinator that does not call the players for the 49ers — head coach Kyle Shanahan does — and Los Angeles Rams coach Nate Scheelhaase not even yet a coordinator.
That has led many to speculate that the Steelers might try to hire one of them as the team's offensive coordinator alongside a head coach. The team used similar tactic when it last filled its general manager position in 2022. The Steelers interviewed then-Philadelphia Eagles assistant Andy Weidl for the position to replace retiring general manager Kevin Colbert. The Steelers ended up promoting Omar Khan for that role, but hired Weidl in a new position just below him.
The Steelers virtually interviewed Kubiak late last week and were the first team to show interest in the first-year coordinator. Kubiak is also expected to interview with the Las Vegas Raiders , but is seen as something of a longshot to become a head coach in this cycle.
But if the Steelers don't hire him as a head coach, they won't be getting him at all, his current boss made clear.
"No, he calls a lot of plays here," Shanahan said . "He's our offensive coordinator, so I don't know, why would you let him be somebody else's offensive coordinator."
Kubiak is in his fifth season on Kyle Shanahan's 49ers staff and his first as the team's offensive coordinator. He was the Niners' offensive passing game specialist last season and served as the team's assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023. Before that, he was a defensive quality control coach in 2021.
Kubiak is the son of longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak. His brother, Klint, is the Seattle Seahawks ' offensive coordinator, and is also a head coaching candidate in this cycle for many other teams.
At the end of the regular season, the 49ers' attack ranked No. 6 in yards per game (351.4), No. 5 in passing yards per game (244.5) and No. 10 in points per game (25.7). Klay Kubiak has played a part in developing San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy , who played nine regular-season games this season and passed for 240.8 yards per game.
Brendan Howe and Chris Ward contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : One Steelers Head Coach Candidate Ruled Out as Potential Offensive Coordinator
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