PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Steelers have plucked three relatively unknown defensive coordinators and watched them grow into the best head coaches in the franchise's history. After longtime leader Mike Tomlin resigned on Tuesday, Steelers president Art Rooney II isn't pigeonholing his head coaching search to fit the same criteria.
"For now, I don't wanna sort of put any real parameters around it," Rooney said during a press conference on Wednesday. "We're gonna be an open book in terms of who we look for and the list that we build. Can I sign up for another Chuck Noll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure. Somebody that we feel fits that mold would be great, but, for now, we're not gonna narrow the box too much."
Speculation has it that one of the defensive candidates that Rooney could consider is Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was previously the Miami Dolphins ' head coach and then an assistant on Tomlin's staff. Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is another head coaching retread that could be on the team's radar.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 28, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula are younger possibilities. Rooney has a major requirement that he's looking for.
"I think there are a lot of things that go into being a successful head coach," Rooney said. "No. 1, really, I think, in my mind is leadership and really trusting that this person can stand up in front of your team day in and day out and hold their attention and have them motivated to do what they do. So that's the most important."
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Will Steelers Stick to Previous Mold for Next Head Coach?
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