I’m not usually one to just throw caution to the wind on big decisions. I have no problem being honest, but I try to think things through a bit. With that in mind, I feel like I know the guy I want to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers. Some would say Chris Shula is low-hanging fruit because he’s been a favorite for the job since it opened, but I went deeper than just the “hot name” or the pedigree. I like Shula for a number of “potential” reasons so let me get to them.
The Really Obvious
Shula would be coming from the famed “Sean McVay Coaching Tree” and for many people that means something. Personally I don’t put a ton into coaching trees but McVay’s tree is a freaking redwood. Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur and Liam Coen are a few of the names that have done well and while those guys are all on the offensive side of the ball, it would still be difficult to ignore this with Shula.
Diversity on D
One of the things that immediately appeals to me is that Shula is a disciple of several different defensive schemes. There are elements of former Rams’ Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips defensive style which was largely a 3-4 built on aggressiveness and outside linebacking play.
Shula has also borrowed from Vic Fangio whose base defense is centered on the 3-4 but with defenses spending so much time in nickel and dime he’s had to evolve. Fangio’s current defense features a lot of disguise, pre and post snap rotations and keeping everything in front of you.
Overall, Shula appears to like using four and five man rushes which may be different from what many Steelers’ fans want. The return of “Blitzburgh” seems to resonate with many fans but I’m not sure that overall style of persistent zone blitzing is still as prevalent as it once was. Especially if you aren’t confident on the back end.
Connections
Shula is known to be an excellent communicator and teacher. McVay has mentioned on several occasions how level-headed and balanced Shula is even when things get dicey. That type of temperament is always important for a head coach despite some of us enjoying those “Bill Cowher type” emotions.
Having good contacts and good relationships is also important. Shula is known as a good evaluator of talent and has earned praise for his relationships with scouts. Those can often be difficult simply because player evaluations are rarely the same and often create differing opinions when it comes to the Draft or free agency.
The Final Reason
While this is by no means a guarantee, if Shula does get the Steelers’ gig there is a good chance he brings Nate Scheelhaase with him. The young man reportedly had an excellent interview with Art Rooney II and Omar Khan. He has recently held the same position with McVay that the aforementioned Shanahan, LaFleur and Coen all did as well.
Some Steelers’ fans don’t like this idea because Scheelhaase may not be around long because so many expect him to be a head coach. My thought is “who cares?” If he comes in and does a good job then isn’t that likely good for us? Furthermore, he will probably have had an impact on other young coaches who might become his replacement.
Wrapping It Up
There are obviously some very good candidates available to the Steelers and while there are a few guys like Mike McCarthy that I want nothing to do with, the candidate pool is solid. The Steelers’ roster is a mess and it starts at quarterback. That doesn’t give me a lot of confidence for 2026 regardless of who the head coach is. Chris Shula however feels like the best option to take us forward and hopefully to a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
