Several NFL pundits and fans see the Pittsburgh Steelers zeroing in on Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula as their next head coach. The Steelers just can’t meet with him in person until after the NFC championship game on Sunday.
But there could be other assistants coaching Sunday the Steelers could still be considering for their head coach opening.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer explained in his column to begin this week that an unusual rule has prohibited the Steelers from virtually speaking with any assistants from this year’s top-seeded teams.
“One interesting rules quirk: The Steelers won’t be able to interview any Broncos or Seahawks assistants until after the playoffs,” Breer wrote. “Pittsburgh missed the first window because it was playing on wild-card weekend, and the second window (during the Super Bowl bye week, should either or both make it) is only for second interviews.”
What that means is, if the Denver Broncos or Seattle Seahawks win Sunday, the Steelers won’t be able to interview any assistants from those teams until after the Super Bowl.
Do the Steelers Still Want to Interview Klint Kubiak or Aden Durde?
When Mike Tomlin initially stepped down as Steelers head coach on January 13, pundits mentioned both Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Aden Durde as potential Tomlin replacements.
But the Steelers didn’t request interviews with either assistant. Kubiak has interviewed with six other teams — the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Durde interviewed with the Falcons as well and the Cleveland Browns.
Had the Steelers requested to interview either Kubiak or Durde, though, they wouldn’t have been able to because of the interview rule Breer explained.
It’s possible this won’t have much of an impact on Pittsburgh’s head coaching search. The Steelers are doing their due diligence on a lot of candidates this week. Breer and other insiders have also stated the Steelers won’t rush with their decision.
Waiting until after the Super Bowl is probably too long. But if either the Seahawks lose the NFC championship game, then the Steelers could have an opportunity to interview Kubiak or Durde if they choose.
With the Broncos, it’s possible Vance Joseph could be a head coach candidate for the Steelers or other teams still with openings.
Chris Shula Named Favorite to be Steelers Next Head Coach
The Steelers could hope the Rams defeat the Seahawks in the NFC championship game to make Kubiak and/or Durde available for interviews. But that’s not ideal for Pittsburgh either.
While the Steelers may or may not be interested in Kubiak and Durde, they definitely are considering Shula as a Tomlin replacement. The Steelers, though, haven’t had a chance to meet with Shula in person because the Rams are also still in the playoffs.
Win or lose, Shula will be available to meet with teams for interviews during the Super Bowl bye week.
That meeting is likely to come with a lot of hype. The Steelers potentially hiring Shula is gaining a lot of traction on social media.
Shula is cut from the same cloth as Pittsburgh’s last three head coaches — Tomlin, Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll. Shula has served as Rams defensive coordinator the past two years and is 39 years old.
Tomlin, Cowher and Noll were all defensive assistants before becoming Pittsburgh’s head coach. They were also in their thirties when their tenures started.