The odds of Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday, Jan. 12 will remain unknown.
That’s because no one bothered to post any for an event widely regarded as a massive long shot.
But odds for who the Steelers will hire as Tomlin’s permanent successor are easier to find.
DraftKings on Wednesday posted odds for 22 potential candidates.
Notable names on the list include University of Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, whose team will play Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game; Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, who guided the Fighting Irish to last year’s national championship game; and recently fired NFL head coaches John Harbaugh (canned by the Ravens), Mike McDaniels (ousted by the Dolphins) and Kevin Stefanski (dumped by the Browns).
None of those men are the favorite to replace Tomlin, according to DraftKings.
Steelers next head coach odds: The favorites
Chris Shula +190
According to Adam Schefter, the Steelers have already requested a chance to interview Shula, who’s in his second year as defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams.
Shula certainly has the requisite genes. He is the grandson of the late Don Shula, who led the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl championships and a perfect season of 17-0 in 1972.
He’s only 39, but he’s earned a seat at the grownups’ table during seven years with the Los Angeles Rams. This season is his second as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Brian Flores +400
The Steelers are already acquainted with Flores.
He was head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021, compiling a record of 24-25 before he got fired. Flores then joined the Steelers for the 2022 season, serving as a senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach. The following year, he joined the Minnesota Vikings and has served as defensive coordinator each of the past three seasons.
Robert Saleh +700
Saleh flopped as head coach of the Jets, going 20-36 before getting fired five games into the 2024 season. But he has found his stride this season as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. Last week, the Seahawks entered their playoff game against the 49ers, averaging 28.4 points, third best in the league. The 49ers were shut down in a 13-3 loss.
Other top contenders
Curt Cignetti +750
At times, Cignetti’s Hoosiers have resembled an NFL team. I mean, could a college squad have wiped out Alabama 38-3 in a CFP quarterfinal game this season? Come to think of it, would the Steelers have been able to beat Indiana this year?
Jesse Minter +800
Minter followed Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers and has served as defensive coordinator in each of the past two seasons. He mostly has college experience on his resume, but notably coached under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens from 2017-2020. And, yes, he’s acutely aware of the rivalry between the Ravens and Steelers.
Vance Joseph +850
His two-year stint as head coach of the Denver Broncos was a failure. In 2017 and 2018, he went 11-21 before getting fired. But after four years with the Arizona Cardinals, Joseph returned to the Broncos under head coach Sean Payton and has performed admirably enough during three years as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Stranger things have happened
- Mike McDaniel +1000
- Klint Kubiak +1000
- Kevin Stefanski +1000
- John Harbaugh +1300
Better to be longshot than no shot
- Grant Udinski +1600
- Nate Scheelhaase +2000
- Marcus Freeman +2000
- Mike LaFleur +2500
Don’t call the moving van yet
- Kliff Kingsbury +4000
- Todd Monken +4000
- Mike Kafka +4000
- Matt Nagy +4000
- Matt LaFleur +4000
- Lou Anarumo +4000
- Joe Brady +4000
- Jeff Hafley +4000