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Interviews for Steelers new head coach thread

Sarge said:
They let Flores out the door and kept Teryl Austin. Are you really surprised?
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I think they let Mike have his way. No more or less…
 
Steelmann said:
I find it weird that they hired a new coach before hiring a GM. I’ve always thought that a GM should have the power to hire and fire a coach.
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It seems like it should be that way. The NFL power structures are blurred. Look at the Giants and Harbaugh, he needed to be able to report straight to the owner.
 
Of the four head coaches hired this cycle, three have had previous HC experience. Stefanski, Harbaugh, Saleh.

I'm warming to McCarthy. Aside from the Rodgers crown jewel in his QB development crown, he also has gotten the two best seasons out of Dak Prescott, and way back when he was OC of the Saints, he got the only two good years out of Aaron Brooks.

The man knows offense and QBs and he's from the area. He's also got a coaching tree.

Best of all, he won't be a 15-20 year tenured coach. That mold needs to be broken unless there is continued success.
 
WindyCitySteel said:
Of the four head coaches hired this cycle, three have had previous HC experience. Stefanski, Harbaugh, Saleh.

I'm warming to McCarthy. Aside from the Rodgers crown jewel in his QB development crown, he also has gotten the two best seasons out of Dak Prescott, and way back when he was OC of the Saints, he got the only two good years out of Aaron Brooks.

The man knows offense and QBs and he's from the area. He's also got a coaching tree.

Best of all, he won't be a 15-20 year tenured coach. That mold needs to be broken unless there is continued success.
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That's about why McCarthy is 4th on my list. There are also a lot of young OCs/QB coaches who've done excellent work with QBs. McCarthy is the type of coach you go with to maintain the status quo. The Steelers should go bold, even if it means some down seasons. They need to start building toward something.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
That's about why McCarthy is 4th on my list. There are also a lot of young OCs/QB coaches who've done excellent work with QBs. McCarthy is the type of coach you go with to maintain the status quo. The Steelers should go bold, even if it means some down seasons. They need to start building toward something.
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Not sure it would be status quo -- the offense would look totally different, and I think he'd hire better assistants.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
I know Pelissero says otherwise, but we can assume Flores is out. If a deal isn't announced within a day or two of a 2nd interview, odds are they won't be hired, IMO.

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Yes it would be odd for him to sign a new contract if he thought he was getting the gig a gig..
 
Well, he has something to fall back on and maybe he was getting the impression that teams were sizing him up for a DC position under the auspices of a head coach interview though you would think the Steelers already know what you’re going to get. I know he has had an interview with the ravens but unsure where else. Could be telling folks, if you want me to guide your defense, it will be as head coach. Could be residue from his prior experience, perceived or actual.
 
steelhurt said:
I don’t want for our HC to be Flores or McCarthy.
Let’s not get away from the blueprint that has brought success since hiring The Emperor in 1969.
NO RETREADS!
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Eh, I don't want coaches to feel like they're tenured, there is a reasonable middle ground. We don't want to be the Browns, but the Eagles fire SB winning coaches and hire others who win SBs.

The Steelers have won 2 Super Bowls in 45 years since the 70's dynasty. Several teams have matched or bettered that and it wasn't because they kept their head coaches longer.

Steelers need to stop navel-gazing and get with the times. This Is How We Do Things is a great way to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
 
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WindyCitySteel said:
Eh, I don't want coaches to feel like they're tenured, there is a reasonable middle ground. We don't want to be the Browns, but the Eagles fire SB winning coaches and hire others who win SBs.

The Steelers have won 2 Super Bowls in 45 years since the 70's dynasty. Several teams have matched or bettered that and it wasn't because they kept their head coaches longer.

Steelers need to stop navel-gazing and get with the times. This Is How We Do Things is a great way to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
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Good post.

Many fans talk about the need for change with the team, but are still obsessed with the idea of having one man coach the Steelers for an entire generation.

It's an interesting view considering the decade or so of football purgatory under Tomlin we just escaped.

If it works out that a coach is here for an extended period and can continue to contend for championships on a regular basis, fine, but just don't be stubborn about it.

With that being said, not every case is the same, as Cowher was still contending for Superbowls within his last few years.

Tomlin not so much.
 
Punxsutawney said:
Good post.

Many fans talk about the need for change with the team, but are still obsessed with the idea of having one man coach the Steelers for an entire generation.

It's an interesting view considering the decade or so of football purgatory under Tomlin we just escaped.

If it works out that a coach is here for an extended period and can continue to contend for championships on a regular basis, fine, but just don't be stubborn about it.

With that being said, not every case is the same, as Cowher was still contending for Superbowls within his last few years.

Tomlin not so much.
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If the Steelers hire a coach who earns 10 seasons with the team, that would be a grand slam. They also don't need to hire a guy who's going to be here for the next 20 years. I'd be fine firing them after 3 seasons if it's the wrong move. It's why I'd rather them take a swing to go for greatness rather than settle for a coach who will bring more of the same.
 
warriors42 said:
I would prefer Shula but would not be disappointed in Scheelhaase. just don't know if he is ready to be the head man yet. a lot of difference between working with a QB and being an HC
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Shula is the safest pick, Steelhouse would be swinging for the fences...
Tomlin was more or less the same kind of radical gamble back in 07... but that **** is way easier to do with a championship caliber staff already in place
 
SteelerFan448 said:
If the Steelers hire a coach who earns 10 seasons with the team, that would be a grand slam. They also don't need to hire a guy who's going to be here for the next 20 years. I'd be fine firing them after 3 seasons if it's the wrong move. It's why I'd rather them take a swing to go for greatness rather than settle for a coach who will bring more of the same.
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Any coach that lasts longer than 5 years with a team is a good get... because that typically means multiple contracts as well as the fact that 5 years is about league average in head coaching years

8 is probably elite with a single team

Only 103 of the 537 nfl coaches even had total careers that lasted 8 or more years total... id wager only 30-40 of those ever had a single stint with a team lasting 8 or more years
 
There's so many conflicting reports on this. When will Shula first be available for an in-person interview if the Rams win Sunday?
 
DesertSteel said:
There's so many conflicting reports on this. When will Shula first be available for an in-person interview if the Rams win Sunday?
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Little confused about it as well I thought it was contingent on if they lose or win…
 
I’ve understood that since there is a two week window between the championship weekend and the SB that coaches on those SB teams are allowed to interview for new HC positions.
Chris Shula and Nathan Sheelhase don’t have to fly to Pittsburgh. Art II and his contingency can also make that trip to sunny LA if the Rams happen to win.
 
steelhurt said:
I’ve understood that since there is a two week window between the championship weekend and the SB that coaches on those SB teams are allowed to interview for new HC positions.
Chris Shula and Nathan Sheelhase don’t have to fly to Pittsburgh. Art II and his contingency can also make that trip to sunny LA if the Rams happen to win.
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That was my original understanding. But now I've read a couple of reports that say SB coaches won't be available for in-person until after the game. If that's true, it's a great disadvantage to assistant coaches trying to move up, not to mention the teams trying to hire them.
 
Per A I

No, they can still interview them, but it gets much more complicated.

The NFL’s 2026 hiring rules actually allow a small window even if the Rams beat the Seahawks this Sunday. Here is the breakdown of how a Rams victory would change the timeline for Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase:

Scenario A: Rams WIN (Advance to Super Bowl LX)​

If the Rams win, the "Winning Formula" remains under contract for the Super Bowl on February 8.

  • The "Bye Week" Window (Jan 26 – Feb 1): The Steelers ARE allowed to hold in-person interviews during the week between the Conference Championship and the Super Bowl.



  • The Catch: Once Super Bowl week officially begins (starting Monday, Feb 2), the Steelers are forbidden from contacting them until the day after the Super Bowl (Feb 9).



  • The Handshake Deal: In this scenario, teams often reach a "verbal agreement" during that bye week. You’d hear reports that they "intend to hire" Shula, but no contract can be signed until February 9.

Scenario B: Rams LOSE (Eliminated Sunday)​

If the Seahawks win on Sunday, all bets are off.

  • Monday, Jan 26: Both Shula and Scheelhaase would be legally free to fly to Pittsburgh immediately.
  • The Advantage: This is the cleanest path. They could be hired, have a press conference by Wednesday, and be on a plane to Mobile for the Senior Bowl by Thursday.

Why a Rams Win is a "Logistical Headache"​

The biggest "Driver" for the Steelers is timing. The Senior Bowl (Jan 27) and the NFL Combine are right around the corner.

  • If the Rams win, the Steelers would likely have to attend the Senior Bowl next week without a Head Coach or an Offensive Coordinator.
  • This would leave Omar Khan and the scouts doing all the work in Mobile without knowing exactly what kind of players Shula and or Scheelhaase want for their specific schemes
 
DesertSteel said:
That was my original understanding. But now I've read a couple of reports that say SB coaches won't be available for in-person until after the game. If that's true, it's a great disadvantage to assistant coaches trying to move up, not to mention the teams trying to hire them.
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This is from Foxsports (I have added bolding)

"In-person interviews with assistants who are under contract with other teams can begin on Jan. 19, unless those teams are still alive for the conference title games.

Those coaches must wait until Jan. 26, when either they were eliminated from the playoffs or have a bye week before the Super Bowl. Coaches on the Super Bowl teams are allowed to be interviewed through Feb. 1 but are forbidden from talking to other teams after that until Feb. 9, the day after the Super Bowl.

Coaches on the Super Bowl teams are not allowed to interview in person with other teams during the bye week if they hadn’t done an initial virtual interview earlier in January.

No coach can either sign a contract or agree to sign a contract until their season is completed."
 
We've all seen the player surveys over the years, Brooke Pryor highlighting that HC candidates will be interviewing the Steelers about investment in resources, staff, facilities, etc. is something you would expect from a loser franchises like the Pirates, Browns, Bengals, Cardinals, etc.

 
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