The NFL world got a big surprise on Tuesday when it was announced that Mike Tomlin would be stepping down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tomlin was the longest tenured head coach in the league, but after another early playoff exit, it seems like it’s the right time for a change. Now, Brian Flores, who has excelled as a defensive coordinator, has been named as a potential replacement.
Brian Flores Could be the Next Head Coach in Pittsburgh
Tomlin became the Steelers’ head coach in 2007. In just his second season at the helm, the coach led the team to Super Bowl 43 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Overall, he compiled a 193-114-2 record as the head coach of the Steelers, and is lauded for never having a losing season in 19 seasons as a head coach, an NFL record.
It’s safe to say the Steelers have big shoes to fill. The team has only had three head coaches since 1968 — a clear indication of how much the storied franchise values stability.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz believes Flores to be an ideal candidate, especially considering Flores worked under Tomlin four seasons ago.
It would not be a surprise if Brian Flores, who was in Pittsburgh in 2022, gets a real look by the #Steelers.
“That makes too much sense,” a high-level executive just told me. https://t.co/AsJAnS6Q8o pic.twitter.com/y9oaTF5nkq
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 13, 2026
“It would not be a surprise if Brian Flores, who was in Pittsburgh in 2022, gets a real look by the #Steelers,” Schultz tweeted. ‘That makes too much sense,’ a high-level executive just told me.”
Flores spent the 2022 season with the Steelers as the linebackers coach and a senior defensive assistant. Since then, Flores has been the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, and his unit has frequently ranked among the league’s best.
PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact Metric gave the Flores’ defense an 88.2 grade, the fourth-best mark in the league.
Brian Flores Brings Proven NFL Head Coaching Experience Despite Controversial Exit
Flores got his first taste of being a head coach with the Miami Dolphins, where he led the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021 and compiled a 24-25 record.
The coach was fired after the 2021 season, even as the Dolphins outperformed expectations, and Flores later filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and said he was pressured to lose games on purpose.
However, on the field, there’s no denying that Flores is a solid coach. Having experience with the Steelers is also a plus, as is his experience working under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots.
