Steelers Set to Interview Rams' Chris Shula as Coaching Search Gains Momentum
The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially diving into their post-Mike Tomlin era, and they're starting with a name that's gaining serious traction around the league: Chris Shula.
Shula, currently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, is scheduled for a virtual interview with the Steelers on Friday. He won’t be the only Rams coach Pittsburgh speaks to that day-offensive passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase is also on the docket. Both interviews will be held virtually due to the Rams still being alive in the postseason, with a playoff matchup against the Chicago Bears looming on Sunday.
If the Rams are eliminated this weekend, the Steelers can move forward with in-person interviews as early as Monday, Jan. 19.
If not, they’ll have to wait until the following week. Either way, Shula and Scheelhaase are early priorities in what promises to be a high-stakes hiring cycle for one of the NFL’s most tradition-rich franchises.
Shula’s name has been buzzing in coaching circles for good reason. In just his second year as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, he’s helped shape a unit that consistently punches above its weight.
Despite not boasting the star power of years past, his defense has stayed aggressive, disciplined, and innovative-hallmarks of a coach who knows how to maximize talent and scheme. His background as a linebackers coach and pass-rush coordinator has been instrumental in developing L.A.’s front seven, and that hands-on experience shows in how his defenses play: fast, physical, and fundamentally sound.
It doesn’t hurt that Shula carries one of the most iconic surnames in NFL history. As the grandson of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula, football is in his blood.
But make no mistake-he’s carving out his own path, and teams are taking notice. Along with the Steelers, the Titans and Dolphins are also expected to interview him.
For Pittsburgh, the interest in Shula makes a lot of sense. While team president Art Rooney II has made it clear the search won’t be limited to defensive-minded candidates, history tells a different story.
Both Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher came in as young, defensive-oriented leaders who emphasized culture as much as scheme. Shula fits that mold.
Schematically, his approach lines up well with what Pittsburgh has traditionally done. The Rams run a 3-4 base defense with heavy nickel packages and creative zone pressures-concepts the Steelers have long used to unleash edge rushers like T.J.
Watt and Alex Highsmith. Shula’s ability to blend scheme with adaptability could be a seamless fit for a defense that prides itself on physicality and versatility.
But this hire is about more than X’s and O’s. The Steelers are looking for someone who can uphold what they call “the standard”-a culture built on consistency, accountability, and internal development.
Replacing a coach who held the job for nearly 20 years isn’t just about finding the next great tactician. It’s about finding a leader who understands what it means to be the face of one of the NFL’s most stable franchises.
This is uncharted territory for Pittsburgh. For the first time in nearly two decades, the team is conducting a full-scale head coaching search. The decisions made in the coming weeks won’t just shape the 2026 season-they’ll define the next era of Steelers football.
Whether it's Shula, Scheelhaase, or another candidate entirely, one thing is clear: the Steelers are casting a wide net, but they’re doing it with a clear sense of who they are and what they need. And with the franchise at a crossroads, every interview, every conversation, and every decision matters.