With the Pittsburgh Steelers casting a wide net for its head coach vacancy, it can be tough to know the background of so many candidates. Their bios and overall view of strengths, weaknesses, and questions. While not the deep deep we’ll save for the actual hire, this will get you more comfortable with the resume of each man.

We’ll start with San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak. As of this writing, he has/had a virtual interview with the team.

Biography

– Colorado State QB (2007-2010)
– High School Offensive Coordinator (2013-2015, 2017)
– High School Head Coach (2018-2020)
– 49ers Defensive Quality Control Coach (2021)
– 49ers Assistant QBs Coach (2022-2023)
– 49ers Pass Game Specialist (2024)
– 49ers Offensive Coordinator (2025)
– 37 years old

Best Known For: Developing QB Brock Purdy

Kubiak took over as the 49ers’ assistant quarterbacks coach the same year Purdy was drafted as Mr. Irrelevant. Jumping into his rookie year to start the final five regular season games and the playoff stretch, he became an immediate sensation. While aided by a strong supporting cast, he went 5-0 in the regular season and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game until injuries to him and backup Josh Johnson ended the run.

Purdy’s true breakout season came in 2023, throwing for nearly 4,300 yards and 31 touchdowns to finish fourth in MVP voting. Now the franchise quarterback, he’s already one of the most successful late-round quarterbacks in the modern era, Kubiak should be credited for his development.

Kubiak is also known as the son of long-time head coach Gary Kubiak and younger brother of Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak. A third brother, Klein, is a national scout for the Dallas Cowboys.

Biggest Concern: Overall NFL Inexperience + Staff Connections

Kubiak is only 37 and hasn’t been a play caller at anything past the high school level. He’s certainly benefitted from coaching alongside Kyle Shanahan and working in San Francisco is the only NFL job he’s held. While Klay is involved with creating the game plan and offering in-game suggestions to Shanahan, including WR Jauan Jennings’ Wild Card touchdown throw to RB Christian McCaffrey, making the jump to head coach is a serious leap.

Insular to just San Francisco, it’s fair to question what kind of staff Kubiak can assemble, too. His connections are more limited.

One interesting note. If Kubiak was the hire, could OL Coach Pat Meyer stay on-staff? Meyer was the o-line coach and later the run game coordinator at Colorado State at the same time Kubiak served as the school’s backup quarterback.

Fun Fact: Call Him Teacher Kubiak

Initially, Kubiak had no desire to coach. His teaching was to come inside a classroom. After his playing days, he attended TCU and earned his Masters degree in English. He taught AP Language while coaching at Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston, Texas before catching the full-time coaching bug.

Summary

Kubiak is one of the more “unknown” candidates for his thinner career resume. But his work with Purdy is notable for a franchise in needing of finding and developing a long-term option.