The Pittsburgh Steelers’ search for their next head coach has begun. They’ve got a few interviews with candidates already lined up. However, more should be revealed in the coming days. There are plenty of options available, including some coaches who were fired recently, such as former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Jerome Bettis wouldn’t mind seeing the Steelers target Stefanski to replace Mike Tomlin.
“I think it would be a challenge, but I would like Stefanski in a sense that he understands this offensive world that we’re in,” Bettis said Wednesday on FS1’s The Herd. “And he also obviously understands the defensive side because he’s had a strong defense the entire time in Cleveland. He would be a guy that I would look at.
“Now, the fact that he just came from Cleveland may give a little pause. But in terms of an X’s and O’s coach, I think he is super talented and would be a good coach for the next organization that decides to give him an opportunity. Especially if he can get a quarterback. That’s the concern in Pittsburgh. You’ve gotta get a quarterback.”
Some Steelers fans might not be thrilled at the prospect of reheating the Browns’ leftovers. However, it wouldn’t be the first time that they’ve hired a former Browns coach to lead their team. Bill Cowher was a coach on the Browns’ staff from 1985-1988. The Browns were a different team back then, though.
Stefanski was with the Browns from 2020-2025, and he actually led them to some success in that time. That hasn’t been common for Cleveland for most of the last two-and-a-half decades. He even took the Browns to the playoffs twice, including getting them their first postseason win since 1994. However, Stefanski wasn’t on the sideline for that game due to an illness.
That postseason victory came against the Steelers as well. Additionally, Stefanski was a two-time Coach of the Year with the Browns. While he wasn’t always perfect, he made them as competitive as they had been.
Stefanski would also give the Steelers something a little different at head coach. His background is in offense, while their last three head coaches have all had defensive backgrounds.
Still, the Steelers might want some new blood in their building to replace Tomlin. Cowher, Tomlin, and Chuck Noll were all first-time head coaches when the Steelers hired them. Art Rooney II might want to continue that trend, hoping to fill that spot for another 15-20 years.
Stefanski has had some interviews with other NFL teams, so he’s generating interest. We’ll see if the Steelers decide to interview him. This isn’t a decision they should make lightly, so hopefully they do their due diligence.