The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing their search for a new head coach, and their latest candidate is a familiar face in AFC circles: Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The team is set to host Weaver for an in-person interview on Friday, marking his second meeting with the Steelers after a virtual session last week. With this interview, Pittsburgh also satisfies the Rooney Rule requirement, meaning they’re now free to make a hire at any time - though more interviews are expected to follow.
Weaver is no stranger to the AFC North. He spent several seasons on John Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore, where he steadily climbed the coaching ladder.
Starting in 2021 as the Ravens’ run game coordinator and defensive line coach, Weaver was promoted to assistant head coach in 2022 and 2023 - a clear sign of the trust and responsibility he earned within that organization. That kind of internal rise speaks volumes in NFL coaching circles, especially when it comes from a team with the defensive pedigree of the Ravens.
In 2024, Weaver made the move to Miami, taking over as defensive coordinator under head coach Mike McDaniel. While the Dolphins’ defense faced its share of challenges - from injuries to inconsistency - Weaver’s reputation as a creative defensive mind hasn’t taken a hit. Even with Miami’s season falling short of expectations and McDaniel’s subsequent dismissal, Weaver remains a respected figure in coaching circles, and teams continue to see him as a legitimate head coaching candidate.
Weaver’s coaching résumé spans more than a decade at the NFL level, starting in 2012 and featuring stints with multiple teams, primarily focusing on the defensive line. That positional expertise has been a consistent thread throughout his career, but it’s his leadership ability and schematic flexibility that have elevated his profile in recent years.
Before coaching, Weaver was a second-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played for the Ravens and Texans during his NFL career - and interestingly enough, would later coach for both franchises. That kind of full-circle experience, both as a player and coach, adds another layer to his candidacy.
While the Dolphins’ defense didn’t meet expectations this past season, the issues were more about personnel than scheme. Weaver’s system is still regarded as innovative, and he’s expected to land on his feet - whether that’s as a defensive coordinator or potentially as a head coach. The fact that he’s drawing interest from a storied franchise like Pittsburgh, which values stability and defensive identity, says a lot about how he’s viewed across the league.
The Steelers have also interviewed former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, as well as Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores - who, of course, spent time in Pittsburgh himself. So the team is clearly casting a wide net, blending experience with fresh ideas. Weaver fits right into that mold: a coach with deep roots in defensive football, a track record of growth, and the kind of leadership that resonates in locker rooms.
As the Steelers continue to evaluate their options, Weaver remains firmly in the mix. Whether or not he lands the job in Pittsburgh, his name isn’t going away anytime soon in head coaching conversations.