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NFL insider Albert Breer said the Pittsburgh Steelers “really like” Los Angeles Rams head coach Chris Shula.
The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t seem to be showing many of their cards when it comes to who will be the franchise’s next head coach. But if there’s one candidate emerging as a favorite, it might be Chris Shula.
NFL insider Albert Breer didn’t specifically use a term such as “favorite” or “frontrunner” when describing Shula with the Steelers on Monday. But Breer simply stated while appearing on FS1’s The Herd the team likes what it sees.
“I can tell you right now, the Steelers really like Chris Shula,” said Breer, via Steelers Depot’s Jake Brockhoff.
Shula has been on the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff for nine seasons. Over the past two years, he’s served as Rams defensive coordinator.
In 2025, his unit finished the regular season 10th in points allowed and 17th in yards yielded.
Shula is one of several candidates the Steelers are currently pursuing. The team is set to begin interviewing candidates in person this week. The Steelers have scheduled in-person interviews with Anthony Weaver and Brian Flores.
Shula won’t be able to conduct in-person interviews for head coaching opportunities until after Los Angeles plays in the NFC championship game Sunday.
Steelers Kept Tabs on Chris Shula Before Mike Tomlin’s Exit
Steelers team president Art Rooney II told reporters on January 14 that he had not done any homework on head coach candidates before Mike Tomlin resigned. That made sense since Rooney also said he fully expected Tomlin to return for 2026.
But according to Breer, that’s not entirely accurate.
“There is some thought that Mike Tomlin could look at a reset, with the Pittsburgh roster potentially going through one soon too, and take a year or two in TV before returning to the sideline,” Breer wrote on January 2 before Week 18. “Interestingly enough, Shula’s name has been connected to the Steelers, in case there is an opening.”
It’s not shocking for an NFL team to love Shula’s resume. The Rams defensive coordinator has nearly a decade of experience under one of the top head coaches in the league — Sean McVay. Shula is also the grandson of the winningest coach in NFL history.
A coach’s linage doesn’t get any better than that.
Shula comes from a defensive background and is only 39 years old. Each of Pittsburgh’s last three head coaching hires were defensive assistants in their thirties.
Having coached with McVay, Shula should have ties to bright, young offensive minds, one of which he could hire as his first offensive coordinator.
Shula will still have to nail his interview. Whenever that takes place. But it’s unsurprising the young head coach has the Steelers’ attention.
Titans Hire Robert Saleh as Next Head Coach: Report
As the Steelers continue to conduct the process, another team, the Tennessee Titans, hired their next head coach late Monday night.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapport reported the Titans will hire Robert Saleh as their next head coach.
“Saleh impressed during the interview process, making him the person to lead this young team,” wrote Rapoport.
The hiring comes as great news for Pittsburgh. The Steelers didn’t interview Saleh before he joined the Titans. So while another job went off the board early this week, almost all the candidates the Steelers are considering are still available.
The lone candidate the Steelers interviewed who has landed a head coaching job is Jeff Hafley. On Monday, the Miami Dolphins hired Hafley as their next head coach.
The Steelers are hiring their first head coach since 2007. Over 19 seasons, Tomlin posted a 193-114-2 regular season record and 8-12 postseason mark.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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