Written by :
Don Shapiro
Published on :
The head coaching vacancy at the Pittsburgh Steelers has no clear cut favorites as of Wednesday following Mike Tomlin's decision to resign earlier in the week.
Chris Shula ranks among the favorites at 5-1 odds.
Here is what Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports had to say in regard to Shula:
The grandson of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula, Chris Shula is in his ninth season on Sean McVay's Rams coaching staff. He won a Super Bowl in 2021 as the team's linebackers coach and is currently in his second season as defensive coordinator.
The 39-year-old Shula fits the bill of the type of candidate the Steelers have gone after in the past. Pittsburgh's previous three coaches were in their 30s, had never been head coaches prior and had had success under accomplished head coaches as an assistant. And like Tomlin and Noll, Shula also has a defensive background.
Chris Vasile of Yahoo Sports writes:
If the Pittsburgh Steelers stick to what they’ve always believed in, defense will be front and center in this search.
Chris Shula is the 'upside' candidate. He’s helped turn the Rams into a top-10 defense by developing young players and getting more out of the roster than expected — something Pittsburgh has always valued.
He doesn’t have head-coaching experience, which makes him more of a long-term bet than an immediate fix, but the foundation is there if the Steelers are willing to take a patient approach.
Pittsburgh Steelers Next Head Coach
| Brian Flores | 3/1 | |
| Marcus Freeman | 7/2 | (+350) |
| Jesse Minter | 4/1 | |
| Larry Foote | 4/1 | |
| Chris Shula | 5/1 | |
| Anthony Weaver | 6/1 | |
| Robert Saleh | 8/1 | |
| Jeff Hafley | 9/1 | |
| Anthony Campanile | 12/1 | |
| Antwaan Randle El | 14/1 | |
| Kevin Stefanski | 16/1 | |
| Mike McDaniel | 18/1 | |
| Vance Joseph | 20/1 | |
| Mike Vrabel | 25/1 | |
| Lou Anarumo | 30/1 | |
| Thomas Brown | 30/1 | |
| Kliff Kingsbury | 30/1 | |
| Jim Schwartz | 40/1 | |
| Matt Nagy | 40/1 | |
| Arthur Smith | 40/1 | |
| Teryl Austin | 40/1 | |
| Matt LaFleur | 50/1 | |
| Bill Belichek | 50/1 | |
| Deion Sanders | 50/1 | |
| Jon Gruden | 75/1 | |
| Bill Cowher | 100/1 |
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
