The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of something the franchise rarely does. They are searching for a new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 seasons and one Super Bowl championship.
Steelers president Arthur Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan are now evaluating a list of candidates. However, one particularly intriguing name has emerged as a possible replacement for Tomlin.
College Football Coach Might Get Attention from Steelers
Brian Baldinger, who played for three NFL teams and is currently an analyst for NFL Network, discussed Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, who led his No. 10 Hurricanes to a 27-21 loss to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, as a potential candidate in Pittsburgh on “The Best Football Show Podcast” on Thursday.
“Not out here trying to play reporter or doing any of that nonsense, but I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal, the coach at the University of Miami,” Baldinger said.
“I think Mario Cristobal actually would really translate to the NFL,” Baldinger continued. “I watched his practice in the spring. The way that Mario coached that team reminded me of what old-school coaches used to do.”
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The Steelers are reportedly “very interested” in Miami HC Mario Cristobal for their HC vacancy, says @BaldyNFL
“Not out here trying to play reporter or doing any of that nonsense, but I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal, the coach at the… pic.twitter.com/37KJZcLnYR
— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 22, 2026
Cristobal has spent 15 seasons as a college football coach at Florida International, Oregon, and Miami (Fla.). He has a 97-79 overall coaching record and played a role in keeping the Oregon Ducks among college football’s top programs.
When he arrived in Miami, the program was struggling. In four seasons, Cristobal, who is in the middle of a 10-year, $80 million contract, helped return “The U” to the College Football Playoff championship game. He is 35-19 at Miami after posting a 35-13 record in five seasons with Oregon.
The Steelers finished the 2025 NFL season 10-7, winning the AFC North. However, in the AFC wild-card round, with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Pittsburgh lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans in front of a home crowd at Acrisure Stadium.
According to the PFSN NFL Offense Impact Metric, the Steelers’ offense had an impact score of 76.4 and received a C grade.
Tomlin announced his decision to step down on Tuesday, the day after the Steelers’ playoff loss. Since 1966, only four men — Bill Austin, Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin — have served as Pittsburgh head coaches, making it a rare and notable position for any successor.
