Rather than merely a coaching tree, one early candidate to become the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach comes from an impressive family tree, too.
The Steelers reportedly asked to interview Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, whose grandfather, Don, is the winningest head coach in NFL history. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers also have requested an interview with Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, a 35-year-old in his second NFL season as an assistant coach.
At least three other candidates have also received interest from the Steelers. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver have reportedly received interview requests.
The Steelers are seeking a replacement for coach Mike Tomlin, who resigned Tuesday after 19 seasons.
Shula, 39, has served on the Rams coaching staff since head coach Sean McVay was hired in 2017, working the past two seasons as defensive coordinator. This season, the Rams tied for seventh in sacks (47), third in QB knockdowns (66) and fifth in takeaways (26).
The New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins also have reportedly sought to interview Shula. His late grandfather won 328 games in 33 years coaching in Baltimore and Miami, the final 26 seasons with the Dolphins. Shula’s father, David, went 19-52 in five seasons as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992-96.
Scheelhaase is less widely recognized having made the jump to the NFL coaching ranks just last season. He previously spent six seasons at Iowa State under newly hired Penn State coach Matt Campbell. Scheelhaase was Campbell’s offensive coordinator in 2023.
He helped the Rams become the NFL’s best offense this season in points (519) and yards (6,709) thanks to a top-ranked passing attack. Quarterback Matthew Stafford earned first-team All-Pro honors while passing for a league-leading 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Flores, 44, a former Dolphins head coach with ties to the Steelers, spent the past three seasons running Minnesota’s defense. He served as a senior defensive assistant with the Steelers in 2022.
This year, the Vikings ranked seventh in points allowed (333) and tied for fourth in sacks (49). Flores went 24-25 as the Dolphins’ coach from 2019-21 and has a pending discrimination lawsuit against the NFL.
The Chargers allowed the NFL’s fifth-fewest yards this season in Minter’s second year at defensive coordinator. The NFL Network reported Minter received an interview request.
The 42-year-old also served as defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines and followed head coach Jim Harbaugh to Los Angeles. His coaching resume includes time as a defensive assistant in Baltimore. His father, Rick, is a former head coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Weaver, 45, was an assistant head coach for the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Dolphins two years ago as defensive coordinator. Miami’s defense ranked fourth in yards allowed in 2024 before slipping to 22nd this year. Weaver also had stints as a position coach with the Jets, Bills, Browns and Texans.
The Athletic reported the Steelers’ interview request for Weaver.
