Possible Head Coach candidates

[Steelperch]

In the off chance Tomlin decides to step away, because we know he won’t be fired, here are some good HC candidates

Jesse Minter - Chargers DC
He’s taken the Chargers defense with similar skill to the Steelers and actually created a suffocating defense. If Tomlin steps away amicably I think this is who he would recommend as a replacement given his connection to Minter. 42 years old with a defensive mindset which fits the Steelers profile. I’m sitting here watching him smack Jalen Hurts around as I type this.

Joe Brady - Bills OC
Only 36 years old which checks the Rooney box for a young upcoming coach, former William and Mary WR like Tomlin

Jim Bob Cooter - Colts OC
Former Lions play caller that turned Stafford career around now has saved Daniel Jones career in Indy. He’s 41 and has a very good offensive mind and is established in the league. I personally like Cooter even though by the way some post here I can only assume you do not like Cooter at all.

Klint Kubiak - Seahawks OC
Another OC who should be at the top of every HC list. His dad was a long time NFL coach and SB winner. His Seahawks offense has been varied and explosive with I believe is moderately talented. Anyone who can take Sam Darnold from seeing ghosts to MVP consideration should get an interview. A young 38 years old is ideal for a team who intends to hire its coaches for 15 years. Kubiak comes from an NFL family so I’d expect him to desire to work in the league for 20+ years.

Mike Lafleur - Rams OC
This coaching tree has been on fire and Lafleur is brother of the Packers HC. Another 38 year old, more innovative than any offensive mind than the Steelers have seen since Bruce Arians left.

[steelmann58]

Good names but think he be for at least another season

[Steeldrama]

Mustn’t forget the Rooney Rule

Marcus Freeman HC Notre Dame

I may have heard mention they’re none too happy about missing out on the CFB playoffs over there in South Bend

[Steelperch]

Mustn’t forget the Rooney Rule

Marcus Freeman HC Notre Dame

I may have heard mention they’re none too happy about missing out on the CFB playoffs over there in South Bend

I’d bring in Antwaan Randle El for my Rooney Rule interview. Oh, and fuck Marcus Freeman.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

I'd hire Ted Nugent just to see Pettaway's head explode.

[langer]

Look, if you asshats replace Mike Tomlin who can never get fired you have the chance of maybe never making the playoffs ever again.

Is that a chance you want to take? You guys don't know how good you have it and face it he'll never get fired, so why bother even thinking about it.

[Deebo]

NO MORE DEFENSIVE GUYS!!!

[bradshaw2ben]

I think Mike Lafleur could be the next hot guy. Chances are, if you don't get in the HC mix this year he'll be gone, though.

I'd be interested to know the defensive guru Lafleur has in his bag to bring with him.

[jebrick]

NO MORE DEFENSIVE GUYS!!!

sorry. That is the secret sauce for the Rooney family. Young DC. THat is who they will hire

[jeemie]

Can you imagine the cries of racism that will ensure if we replace Mike Tomlin with a guy named Jim Bob Cooter?

[RealSwiss]

Can you imagine the cries of racism that will ensure if we replace Mike Tomlin with a guy named Jim Bob Cooter?

Ha! I had same thought. Someone will probably say he has KKK ties. It would be so worth it though for the endless parade of cooter jokes and signage that would appear all over the stadium. He's a perfect match for the Pittsburgh fan base and would bring a new aspect of entertainment to the team.

[langer]

Does Jim Bob dip Cope or is he a side chew guy?

[bradshaw2ben]

NO MORE DEFENSIVE GUYS!!!

sorry. That is the secret sauce for the Rooney family. Young DC. THat is who they will hire

Not if Danny Rooney takes over first. I think he isn't your father's Rooney. Offensive guy, analytics guy, technology guy, modern football guy.

[Steel Ubaldo]

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights, people

[Dan Smith--BYU]

"Can you imagine the cries of racism that will ensure if we replace Mike Tomlin with a guy named Jim Bob Cooter?"

I'd hire Jason Whitlock as an assistant just to watch Scott Van Pelt's head explode.

[CKSteeler]

"Can you imagine the cries of racism that will ensure if we replace Mike Tomlin with a guy named Jim Bob Cooter?"

I'd hire Jason Whitlock as an assistant just to watch Scott Van Pelt's head explode.

Woh woh woh there buddy. Whitlock makes more from his podcast than the Rooney's would ever pay for an assistant coach.

[gojira5150]

How about Robert Selah as HC. IF, IF Mike McDaniel gets canned in Miami, bring him in as OC and give him complete control of the Offense.

[Gonzo]

saleh ... as HC ... come on man

[Gonzo]

this thread is depressing
we arent getting anything -- they will re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic next year. Two new no-name yes man DC and OC ... blame everything on Smith and Austin and a few vets they will fire.
Re-sign Rodgers, draft more LBs, and antother RB way too early and go even deeper (I know you didnt think it possible) down the risk-removal O.
3 TEs and 2 big WRs ... with a new OC ... tomlin will say the concept is brilliant and things of that nature and its smiths fault it didnt work if you will

and this is the real problem along with the refusal to re-build ... its not just that rooney wont start again with a new Coach. Its that he wont even force him to Change. which on its face seems to support the argument that they are perfectly happy with 9-8 and could give a shit abut playoff wins let alone SB wins. NHALS is relevance and thats all they want to fill stands and sell shit and rake in guaranteed tv money
Bob Nutting's plan just with a few more dollars spent and a salary cap to help insure .500 ball

Tomlins football plan reflects Rooneys business plan -- name a few key Capos and everyone gets rich as long as you get along to get along -- see Watt, Heyward et al

[Dan Smith--BYU]

I would consider Aaron Rodgers but no way in hell the Rooneys go that way

He's clearly smarter than the other coaches when he is on the sidelines

[Gonzo]

I would consider Aaron Rodgers but no way in hell the Rooneys go that way

He's clearly smarter than the other coaches when he is on the sidelines

i have swung back the other direction -- only changes of perception are coming
rodgers is coming back or another older FA QB
NOTHING is going to change - they are happy

i can almost guaranty the following series of events

steelers make the playoffs at 9-8
steelers lose badly to the bills as they repeat the same plan used in their last 75 games and are once again called out for appearing to quit
steelers fire smith and austin
steelers release some vets and blame them
steelers state that not establishing the run is their greatest failure - back to basics
steelers sign rodgers again or another 30+ FA QB
steelers run the same O as this year - U-shape and even more conservative ... more straight running plays
steelers draft another RB not a QB

[gojira5150]

saleh ... as HC ... come on man

I get it. Just throwing out names. He could be one of those who's a better DC than HC

[LakecrestSteeler]

In the off chance Tomlin decides to step away, because we know he won’t be fired, here are some good HC candidates

Jesse Minter - Chargers DC
He’s taken the Chargers defense with similar skill to the Steelers and actually created a suffocating defense. If Tomlin steps away amicably I think this is who he would recommend as a replacement given his connection to Minter. 42 years old with a defensive mindset which fits the Steelers profile. I’m sitting here watching him smack Jalen Hurts around as I type this.

Joe Brady - Bills OC
Only 36 years old which checks the Rooney box for a young upcoming coach, former William and Mary WR like Tomlin

Jim Bob Cooter - Colts OC
Former Lions play caller that turned Stafford career around now has saved Daniel Jones career in Indy. He’s 41 and has a very good offensive mind and is established in the league. I personally like Cooter even though by the way some post here I can only assume you do not like Cooter at all.

Klint Kubiak - Seahawks OC
Another OC who should be at the top of every HC list. His dad was a long time NFL coach and SB winner. His Seahawks offense has been varied and explosive with I believe is moderately talented. Anyone who can take Sam Darnold from seeing ghosts to MVP consideration should get an interview. A young 38 years old is ideal for a team who intends to hire its coaches for 15 years. Kubiak comes from an NFL family so I’d expect him to desire to work in the league for 20+ years.

Mike Lafleur - Rams OC
This coaching tree has been on fire and Lafleur is brother of the Packers HC. Another 38 year old, more innovative than any offensive mind than the Steelers have seen since Bruce Arians left.

Indiana football, Curt Cignetti, coach seems like he is an outlier among all coaches all sports...I'd grab him:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ ... NewsBrowse

Sounds like Curt has cracked the code. I remember reading about a coach of a Division III school that practiced very little, and never used pads, and he was undefeated for several years and one a bunch of championships in St. Cloud area I believe.

______________________________________________________________________

They’re the best team in college football—and they barely practice at all

Story by Laine Higgins, Robert O’Connell

When Curt Cignetti coached Indiana to an upset win over Ohio State on Saturday for the school’s first Big Ten title since before the moon landing, the most shocking thing wasn’t that he’d built the sad-sack Hoosiers into a champion in the space of just two years.

It’s that the most improbable turnaround in college football history took even less time than you thought.

Instead of endless hours on the practice field and a grueling regimen of drills, Cignetti’s Indiana team has reached the pinnacle of the game by hardly practicing at all.

In a sport that caps practice time at a maximum of 20 hours per week, the Hoosiers typically use just six of those on the field. Walk-throughs before and after games are barely as long as an episode of “The Office.” Even Cignetti’s most arduous sessions fall well short of the two-hour mark.

“I’ve always been a short practice guy,” Cignetti said. “My practices have probably gotten even shorter through the years, as we do everything we can to prepare the team fully but keep them fresh and healthy.”
This is all part of Cignetti’s “work smarter, not harder” philosophy that is shaking up college football. Outside of Bloomington, no other coach would ever consider leaving a single minute of practice time unused. They equate high performance with extreme preparedness.

But for players who work under Cignetti, the approach couldn’t be more different. When Myles Price transferred to Indiana from Texas Tech, he came from a program where workouts were designed to mimic the Navy SEALs. For one exercise in Lubbock, players were required to report to a swimming pool at 5 a.m.

“We got on these cotton sweatshirts and cotton sweatpants,” he recalled. “Gotta go underwater, take off the cotton sweatshirts to switch with your partner and they put it on.”

“It had nothing to do with football,” added Price, now of the Minnesota Vikings.

At Indiana, no one is disrobing underwater to become a better football player. In fact, almost no one is doing any tackling. Practices focus more on brain than brawn, emphasizing the strategy, reads and fine-tuned execution that might decide close games.

“I probably hit the ground my whole time in Indiana like two times,” said Price. “I felt amazing.”

Pulling back on practice has paid historic dividends. Before Cignetti arrived in Bloomington in 2023, the Hoosiers weren’t just also-rans. They were the single losingest program in the history of top-level college football. Now, in his second year at the helm, they’ve capped off an undefeated regular season to earn the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

But the most remarkable thing about Cignetti’s less-is-more practice philosophy is that he came up under the tutelage of the sport’s most demanding taskmaster: Nick Saban. Cignetti was one of Saban’s first hires at Alabama in 2007 as the team’s receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa, including the perfect 2009 campaign that ended with a national title.

It was there that Cignetti practically earned a doctorate in “The Process,” Saban’s patented, detail-obsessed method for turning the Tide into a dynasty. In Saban’s system, even the tiniest elements of the game are drilled and drilled until the team becomes a championship-winning machine.

When Cignetti took over his own programs—at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and then at Elon and James Madison University—he tried to run practices as hard as his former boss. But he soon came to realize that Saban-style drudgery could be counterproductive. Players were frequently unavailable on game days because they picked up so many injuries in practice.

So Cignetti put his own spin on The Process: Drill to the point of proficiency, and not a second more.

“I just believe in keeping people fresh and healthy,” Cignetti said. “The better people feel physically, the better they feel mentally, too.”

For most of the season, Indiana’s mentally fresh players have torched their opponents. Fernando Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy finalist, led the country in passing touchdowns. The Hoosiers won 10 of their 13 games by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 31.1 points.

But when they found themselves in a three-point game on Saturday with a chance to win their first Big Ten championship since 1967, they were ready for it. Cignetti’s practices—light on tackling, but heavy on information—had prepared them for precisely this eventuality.

“We’ve put ourselves in very stressful situations and the scenarios that have played out in these games, final two minutes, a lot of times,” linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “In practice.”

Write to Laine Higgins at laine.higgins@wsj.com and Robert O’Connell at robert.oconnell@wsj.com

[jebrick]

I would grab IU's DC just for the havoc that Dline caused vs 4 and 5 star Oline recruits.