How does Steelers’ head coach opening compare with others around NFL?

Among the eight current coaching openings in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans have something the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t.

That’s a clear plan at quarterback.

Having that question already answered makes any job more attractive, but joining the Steelers comes with its own perks. Maybe most enticing is the unmatched job security shown under Rooney family ownership.

The Steelers haven’t hired a head coach in almost two decades. So, as the team’s front office seeks Mike Tomlin’s replacement, where exactly does the Pittsburgh job rank among the NFL’s available options?

Here’s a look as some key factors for coaching candidates to consider:

The QB quandary

Tomlin’s resignation after 19 seasons all but closed the door on quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning for another season. Steelers president Art Rooney II acknowledged as much Wednesday, noting that Rodgers came to Pittsburgh to play for Tomlin.

No Tomlin surely means no Rodgers.

That leaves backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as the top quarterbacks remaining on the roster. With the Steelers holding the 21st pick in the upcoming draft, there’s no guarantee a franchise QB will be waiting. Accepting a job with uncertainty at the most important position is always risky.

The Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals have varying quarterback questions as well.

However, the Ravens have two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson back, and the Titans return 2025 first-round pick Cam Ward after a promising rookie year. The Raiders, by holding the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, could answer their QB quandary by selecting Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza first overall.

Job security

Famously, the Steelers have had only three head coaches since the late Dan Rooney as team president hired Chuck Noll in 1969. Noll coached for 23 seasons, and his successor Bill Cowher stayed for 15 years.

That’s rare in the NFL.

For comparison, the Giants have had 15 coaches in the past 57 years (not including John Harbaugh, who is finalizing a deal to take that position), the Raiders employed 19 and the recently fired Kevin Stefanski was the Browns’ 21st since 1969. What that means is the coach the Steelers hire can plan to stick around town for a while. That could convince a candidate to overlook the quarterback question, knowing they surely aren’t facing a one-and-done like Pete Carroll with the Raiders this year or Jerod Mayo with the Patriots after last season.

The Steelers also traditionally hire young head coaches. Noll was 37, and Cowher and Tomlin were 34, allowing them plenty of runway to grow into the job.

1st-place schedule

By winning the AFC North title this season, the Steelers’ next coach won’t have an easy schedule next season.

The first-place finish in the division will earn the Steelers matchups with the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Plus, they’ll face the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars because the AFC North crosses over with the AFC South.

Some other new coaches have it easier.

Based on 2025 records, the easiest schedule for next season belongs to the Cleveland Browns. The Atlanta Falcons will draw the fifth-easiest slate with the Titans and Ravens also among the 10 easiest.

Statistically, the Steelers’ schedule ranks as just the 19th-hardest overall. The schedule is softened by the AFC North teams matching up with the NFC South next season.

Veteran roster

The Steelers’ next coach might not be the oldest guy in the locker room.

The team’s 42-year-old quarterback likely won’t be back, but other aging veterans remain on a roster that ranked as the league’s second oldest in 2025. The Steelers’ average age was 27.8 years old, according to Spotrac.com, which tracks player salaries.

Among the highest-paid players are 31-year-old linebacker T.J. Watt ($42 million cap hit in 2026), 36-year-old defensive lineman Cam Heyward ($19.2 million), 31-year-old cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($17.2 million) and 30-year-old tight end Jonnu Smith ($10.8 million).

Art Rooney II said the franchise isn’t facing a “rebuild,” but the Steelers spent the past year acquiring older players in a win-now approach. There is promising youth on the offensive and defensive lines, but the Steelers have roster decisions to make.

Running back Kenneth Gainwell, voted the Steelers MVP, is a free agent after leading the team in receptions. The contract of 32-year-old left guard Isaac Seumalo also expires at season’s end.

Among the other NFL teams with head coaching openings, the Browns, Dolphins and Titans ranked among the five youngest rosters this season. The Titans and Ravens were each among the 10 youngest.

Replacing Tomlin

Tomlin became an NFL icon in his 19 years with the Steelers, a career that surely earns him a spot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.

The next coach may live in that shadow, much like Tomlin for a while lived in Bill Cowher’s. However, Tomlin went 10-6 in his first year followed by a 12-4 season and a Super Bowl victory in Year 2, helping to quickly establish his bona fides as coach.

A string of playoff losses ultimately defined the end of Tomlin’s coaching career in Pittsburgh, but the franchise is usually competitive in season. Baltimore’s next coach faces a similar situation because the Ravens fired Harbaugh after 18 seasons. He and Tomlin were the two longest-tenured active coaches.

The other teams with coaching vacancies had all changed coaches since 2020. The Browns and Kevin Stefanski had the longest tenure among them at six seasons.

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