The Penn State Nittany Lions continue to miss out on head coaching targets as the search for their next program leader wears on.
Athletic director Patrick Kraft and Penn State fired longtime head coach James Franklin after the Nittany Lions’ 3-3 start to the 2025 college football season. Now several weeks later, the team remains without a replacement.
Most head coaching vacancies have been filled at this point, leaving Penn State with dwindling options. This lack of options has resulted in many fans and analysts thinking outside the box for the Nittany Lions’ next head coach.
Former NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger believes Penn State should hire current Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach for the last 19 years, winning a Super Bowl title with Roethlisberger in 2008 and notching an NFL-record 18 consecutive non-losing seasons. But during this past Sunday’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, “Fire Tomlin” chants rained down onto the field at Acrisure Stadium.
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Roethlisberger believes Tomlin would be wildly successful with a “fresh start” in Happy Valley.
“It’s being talked about around here a lot: Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. “I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin. But maybe it’s best for him, too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether that’s in the pros, maybe go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do in Penn State? He would probably go win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.”
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Penn State missed out on its reported top target, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, when he announced his decision to return to Provo on Tuesday evening. Names like Louisville HC Jeff Brohm, Ohio State OC Brian Hartline and former New York Giants HC Brian Daboll have been floated as remaining options for the Nittany Lions.
Tomlin and the 6-6 Steelers will look to get their 2025 NFL season back on track in a Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.