Ben Roethlisberger Wants an Offensive-Minded Future for the Steelers - and He’s Not Subtle About It
Ben Roethlisberger knows what a high-powered Steelers offense looks like - he led one for over a decade. And now, as Pittsburgh searches for its next head coach, the former franchise quarterback is making it clear: it’s time for the team to shift its identity and lean into offense.
“I want an offensive-minded head coach,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast Tuesday. “That’s what I would do if I was the general manager.”
Roethlisberger’s message wasn’t vague. He’s looking for a young, innovative offensive mind - someone in the mold of Sean McVay or Ben Johnson - who can breathe life into a unit that’s struggled to find consistency since his retirement.
The goal? Simple: score more than six points in a playoff game.
It’s a fair ask, especially when you look at what the Steelers offense once was during Roethlisberger’s prime. From 2014 to 2018, Pittsburgh was a top-tier offensive machine.
They never ranked lower than seventh in total yardage during that five-year run. They were top-10 in scoring every year and consistently among the league’s elite in the passing game.
That stretch featured explosive playmakers, creative scheming, and, most importantly, results.
But since 2019, the picture has changed - and not for the better. The Steelers haven’t finished higher than 23rd in total yardage since then, and they've only cracked the top half of the league in scoring twice. The drop-off has been noticeable, and Roethlisberger’s comments reflect the frustration shared by many in Steelers Nation.
He didn’t stop at just calling for an offensive mind at the helm. Roethlisberger laid out a full vision for the coaching structure he’d like to see in Pittsburgh.
His idea? Pair that young offensive head coach with a veteran defensive coordinator - someone who’s been a head coach before, but no longer wants the top job.
A stabilizing presence who can take full control of the defense and let the head coach focus on building a dynamic offense.
“If you get that young offensive-minded head coach in here,” Roethlisberger said, “you bring in a defensive coordinator that is a veteran… a guy that’s already had a head coaching job that doesn’t wanna be a head coach anymore. He’s just like, ‘You know what?
I’m over being a head coach. I would be here for the next 5-10 years, whatever you want.’
And give him full reins of the defense.”
It’s a blueprint that’s worked in other places - think Kyle Shanahan and DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco, or McVay and Wade Phillips in Los Angeles during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. Roethlisberger’s plan isn’t just wishful thinking - it’s rooted in a model that’s proven successful in today’s NFL.
And it seems the Steelers’ front office might be thinking along similar lines. Team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan have already interviewed three candidates with offensive backgrounds: Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Each brings a different flavor to the table. Scheelhaase is an up-and-coming mind from the McVay coaching tree.
Kubiak has been part of one of the league’s most creative and efficient offenses in San Francisco. And McCarthy, while far more experienced, offers a proven track record and Super Bowl pedigree.
The Steelers are clearly exploring their options, and Roethlisberger’s comments only amplify the growing sentiment that it’s time for a shift in philosophy. Pittsburgh has long been known for its defensive identity - tough, gritty, and physical. But in today’s NFL, offense wins games, and more often than not, championships.
Roethlisberger’s playing days are over, but his voice still carries weight in Pittsburgh. And as the franchise navigates one of its most important coaching hires in recent memory, his call for change might just echo through the front office.
One thing’s certain: the Steelers’ next move could define the next era of football in the Steel City. And if Roethlisberger has his way, that era will be all about lighting up the scoreboard.