For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in uncharted territory: searching for a new head coach. With Mike Tomlin stepping away, the franchise faces a pivotal moment - one that could shape the identity of the team for years to come. Team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan are now tasked with continuing a remarkable legacy, one that stretches back to the NFL merger and includes only three head coaches, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the franchise.
The search is already underway, and if the early interview requests are any indication, the Steelers are leaning heavily into a familiar formula - young, defensive-minded leaders who can set the tone for a locker room and command respect on day one. The latest name to surface? Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
According to reports, the Steelers have officially requested to interview Evero for their head coaching vacancy. It’s a move that speaks volumes about the direction Pittsburgh appears to be heading.
Let’s talk about Evero. He’s been around NFL sidelines since 2007, gradually working his way up the coaching ladder.
After a stint as the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator in 2022, he took over the Panthers’ defense, where he’s spent the last three seasons. While Carolina’s 2024 season was statistically rough - finishing dead last in both points and yards allowed - Evero’s defense rebounded in 2025, helping propel the Panthers to a playoff berth.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed in league circles.
Evero isn’t the only defensive coordinator on Pittsburgh’s radar. He joins a growing list that includes Chris Shula, Brian Flores, Jesse Minter, and Anthony Weaver.
That’s five out of the first six interview requests - all defensive coordinators, all relatively young, and all with fresh perspectives. It’s clear the Steelers are prioritizing a specific profile: someone who can lead with intensity, command a room, and bring a defensive edge that has long been part of the franchise’s DNA.
History backs this up. When the Steelers hired Mike Tomlin in 2007, he was just 34 years old.
Bill Cowher was also 34 when he took over in 1992. Chuck Noll?
- These weren’t just hires - they were statements.
Pittsburgh has consistently sought out young, defensive-minded coaches who could grow with the team and establish a culture. Evero, at 45, fits that mold with the added bonus of nearly two decades of NFL experience under his belt.
One thing that stands out in this search: the Steelers aren’t showing much interest in recycled head coaches. Outside of Brian Flores - who’s a unique case given his history with the organization and his defensive pedigree - Pittsburgh’s focus is clearly on fresh blood. That’s not a knock on veteran coaches, but rather a sign that Rooney and Khan believe the next chapter in Steelers football will be written by someone who can bring new energy to the sideline without straying from the franchise’s core identity.
Evero may not be the final pick, but his inclusion in the early wave of interviews says a lot. He’s respected, experienced, and has shown he can adapt and lead. And in a city where defense is more than just a phase - it’s a tradition - that kind of résumé carries serious weight.
The Steelers are at a crossroads, but they’re not lost. They know who they are.
And if the past is any indication, the next head coach will be someone who embodies the toughness, discipline, and vision that Pittsburgh football has always stood for. Evero, and others like him, just might be the next in line to carry that torch.