Steelers Coaching Search: Bill Cowher Weighs In on What Pittsburgh Needs Next
The Pittsburgh Steelers are at a pivotal moment - not just in their current season, but in shaping the next chapter of a storied franchise. With six Lombardi Trophies in the case and a legacy built on defense, toughness, and a punishing ground game, the Steelers are once again searching for a head coach who can carry that tradition forward - or maybe even redefine it.
Team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan are leading the charge, casting a wide net in their search. But for Hall of Famer and former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, the focus shouldn’t be on preserving a certain “Steelers style” - it should be about finding the right leader, period.
“It’s not how you do it, it’s the way you do it,” Cowher said Wednesday on CBS Sports’ We Need To Talk. And when Cowher talks Steelers football, people in Pittsburgh listen.
Cowher knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in the Steel City. From 1992 to 2006, he led the team to a 149-90-1 regular-season record, guided them to multiple AFC Championship Games, and ultimately hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XL. Only Chuck Noll and Mike Tomlin - both with 193 career regular-season wins - sit above him on the franchise’s all-time wins list.
But even with his deep roots in the franchise’s hard-nosed identity, Cowher isn’t hung up on tradition for tradition’s sake.
“The person walking into that building, it’s not gonna be about the style of play,” Cowher said. “It’s the manner with which you approach it.”
That’s classic Pittsburgh. It’s not about flash.
It’s about grit, accountability, and a work ethic that mirrors the city’s blue-collar DNA. Cowher emphasized that while toughness is a must, humility and a competitive edge are just as important.
Steelers fans want a team that reflects who they are - resilient, grounded, and relentless.
During Cowher’s 15-year run, the Steelers were a defensive powerhouse. His teams finished in the top 10 in total defense 10 times, leading the NFL in 2004 and finishing second in 1992 and 1994.
Pittsburgh’s defenses under Cowher were consistently among the league’s stingiest, including No. 1 overall in both 2001 and 2004. And that wasn’t all - the ground game was just as dominant.
The Steelers had a top-five rushing attack eight times during Cowher’s tenure, leading the league in 1994, 1997, and 2001.
So yes, Cowher helped define the very identity the Steelers are now questioning. But his message is clear: don’t chase the past - build something that works now.
Rooney echoed a similar sentiment during a press conference last week, signaling an openness to fresh ideas and new leadership styles.
“For now, I don’t wanna sorta put any real parameters around it,” Rooney said. “We’re gonna be an open book in terms of who we look for and the list that we build.
So, yeah, could I sign up for another Chuck Noll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure.
Somebody that we feel fits that mold would be great, but, for now, we’re not gonna kinda narrow the box too much.”
Translation: the door is open - not just to the next great defensive mind, but possibly to someone who brings a more modern, offensive-minded approach. And that’s reflected in some of the names already in the mix.
Among the candidates the Steelers have spoken with are Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. That’s a group that leans more toward the offensive side of the ball - a notable shift for a franchise that’s long been defined by its defense.
Still, whoever takes over will be stepping into one of the most respected and pressure-packed roles in football. The standard in Pittsburgh isn’t just about playoff appearances - it’s about competing for championships, year in and year out.
And as Cowher made clear, that standard isn’t about scheme - it’s about substance.
So whether the next head coach is a defensive savant or an offensive innovator, the real question is this: Can they lead with conviction, earn the locker room’s respect, and bring a level of discipline and toughness that lives up to the Steelers name?
That’s the blueprint. That’s the bar. And in Pittsburgh, that’s what matters most.