Anthony Weaver has gone from an unheralded name on a long list of Pittsburgh Steelers candidates to a finalist for the job. But if the Steelers want to make him the franchise\u2019s next head coach, they may need to act fast. Weaver is drawing strong interest from the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n
The Bills and Cardinals are interviewing him this weekend, with NFL Network\u2019s Tom Pelissero noting<\/a> Arizona is bringing Weaver back Sunday for a second meeting.<\/p>\n The Cardinals are bringing in Anthony Weaver on Sunday for a second interview for their head coaching job, per sources.<\/p>\n Weaver, the former NFL defensive end who most recently was Miami\u2019s DC, is interviewing with the Bills today. He also is a finalist for the Steelers HC job. pic.twitter.com\/kVR2Ee2K6F<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Of the seemingly five finalists \u2013 Mike McCarthy, Brian Flores, Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase, and Weaver \u2013 Weaver might have the highest level of league-wide interest. Pittsburgh is the only vacant job McCarthy and Flores have interviewed for. Shula was floated as a potential candidate in Baltimore, but the Ravens opted to hire Jesse Minter instead. Scheelhaase is drawing strong interest from the Cleveland Browns<\/a>, but Weaver is garnering interest from two franchises.<\/p>\n The fact that Weaver is interviewing with the Cardinals twice suggests he\u2019s a finalist for the job. Well-regarded around the league, Weaver has been on the head-coaching circuit for the last several years but has yet to be offered a job.<\/p>\n That might change in 2026. Weaver has ties to Buffalo, spending a year coaching the Bills\u2019 defensive line in 2013. Arizona is eyeing a defensive-minded coach and has been tied to Jacksonville Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile and Denver Broncos DC Vance Joseph.<\/p>\n It seems Pittsburgh is waiting until at least next week to make its hire. The Steelers are expected to bring in Shula and\/or Scheelhaase for an in-person interview after the Los Angeles Rams\u2019 NFC Championship Game. NFL rules prevent that from happening until Monday at the earliest.<\/p>\n A patient and thorough process is commendable, but it comes at the risk of losing out on candidates as teams around the league begin filling their vacancies. The college All-Star games are happening now<\/a>, the NFL Combine begins in a month, and free agency won\u2019t be long after that. The sooner a head coach can be hired, the quicker a coaching staff can be assembled, and the quicker a team can move forward.<\/p>\n For now, the Steelers are playing the waiting game. If Weaver is their top candidate, that approach could cost them.<\/p>\n