The 2024 head coaching merry-go-round has come to an end as the Chiefs have hired Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their next head coach.
But with several highly touted coaches still available to join the league, the Steelers should make every effort to add one of their own.
Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was one of the coaches who couldn’t find a job during the cycle.
The 48-year-old was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, and Pittsburgh will benefit from keeping him on staff in 2024. The Steelers also signed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores to 2022. Their senior defensive assistant and the linebackers coach. Vrabel can lead by example after serving as Texas’ coach from 2014 to 2016 and defensive coordinator before joining Tennessee in 2017.
Vrabel also has a good relationship with new Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith was Vrabel’s OC with the Titans from 2019 to 2020, and now the two can pick up where Steele left off in the city.The Steelers like to bring in players and personnel who have prior ties to the organization. Vrabel certainly fits the bill, as he was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1997 and played four seasons with the team.
Adding Vrabel to Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff could be a one-year move, just like Flores. But if Vrabel can have a similar impact on Flores, it might be worth it.
The defense allowed the ninth-fewest yards (108.1) and 10th-fewest points (20.4) in the league in 2022 with Flores on its coaching staff.Vrabel will probably be glad he won’t be driving next season. But if the Steelers give him a chance to prove his coaching skills in 2024, he could have a head coaching contract by this time next year.
