Over on our NFL head coach GM Tracker page, we’ve been trying to keep track of all the interview requests in one place for the biggest open jobs in the NFL.
However, since NFL teams typically have to request those interviews when coaches are under contract with NFL teams elsewhere, names you won’t find on there are college coaches.
According to a recent report, at least one of those open NFL jobs is interested in a hot college name
Analyst Brian Baldinger shared one of the coaches who just had his team playing in the national title game is garnering interest for the opening in Pittsburgh.
While noting he’s not trying to “play reporter or any of that nonsense” the analyst for NFL Network and Fox Sports shared that he’s hearing the Steelers have a very real interest in Mario Cristobal.
“I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal – the head coach at the University of Miami. I think Mario Cristobal, actually, would really translate to the NFL,” Baldinger adds.
“I’ve watched his practices in the spring. He’s got Jason Taylor coaching the defensive line and they’ve got two number one picks on that defensive line. Mario Cristobal coaching the offensive line, and their right tackle is going to be a first-round pick. They are sound everywhere on that team, but the way that Mario has coached that team reminded me of what old school coaches used to do.”
“They’re limited in the NFL as far as how many times you can put pads on and hit and all that stuff, but they are going to get after it.”
Cristobal, a career college coach with no NFL experience has completely transformed the identity of his alma mater since taking over in 2022, helping Miami give Indiana all they could handle in the national title game on Monday night. Their success all year was in large part due to their talent in the trenches, an area they have proudly built over Cristobal’s time back at The U.
After being dismissed after a 27-47 mark as the head coach at FIU, Cristobal joined Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as assistant head coach and offensive line coach for a few seasons, then left for the co-offensive coordinator opportunity at Oregon for a season before he was elevated to head coach of the Ducks.
He went 35-13 while helping transform Oregon into one of the most physical teams in the Pac-12 (at the time) before the Canes lured him back to Miami, and in the past two seasons there he has went 23-6 with three wins in the College Football Playoff in 2025 before losing a tight 27-21 game for the national title to the Hoosiers earlier this week.
Pittsburgh is seeking to replace the legendary Mike Tomlin, who led the franchise to an NFL record 19-straight non-losing seasons before deciding it was time to step away recently. Tomlin led the franchise to Super Bowl XLIII, but the franchise had failed to win a playoff game in their last six appearances under his leadership, with 2016’s 2-1 mark their last postseason win.
Hear Baldinger’s full comments on Cristobal and the Steelers in the video.
BREAKING: NFL savant analyst Brian Baldinger says the Steelers are “very interested” in Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal. Baldy is very close to the Steelers front office. He’s talked on our show about his friendship with Andy Weidl. He calls Cristobal an “old school” coach. Wow. pic.twitter.com/tw2w2Ueioc
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 23, 2026