The Steelers’ search for a new coach will go on this week, with several interviews having already happened and more to come.
Meanwhile, Curt Cignetti, the Indiana coach who is preparing himself for Monday’s NCAA National Championship Game, indicated at his news conference Saturday that he’s not interested. Asked by a pool reporter if he would consider an NFL job, the former IUP coach replied, “I mean, I’m not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago when I went with Chuck Amato to NC State in 2000. I had a chance to go with the Packers, Tom Rossley, Mike Sherman, Favre was in his heyday. I think Darrell Bevell got the job, ended up taking the job. I declined the opportunity. I almost took it. That’s when I made the final decision, and I’ve always been more of a college football guy.”
The NFL Network says one of the Steelers’ targets, Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, is a “frontrunner” and the “leading candidate” to be hired by Miami, which is a bit of a surprise because the Dolphins’ own DC, Anthony Weaver, is a hot candidate for a number of jobs, and so is Rams DC Chris Shula, the son of Dolphins legend Don Shula.
The Steelers were reported to have conducted virtual interviews with Shula and with his fellow Los Angeles Rams assistant, offensive passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhasse. Because the Rams are still alive in the playoffs, their coaches are not permitted to do in-person interviews.
The Steelers were to meet Saturday with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, and with the 49ers having been eliminated, they can meet this week with their offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak. Former Steelers assistant and current Vikings DC Brian Flores, a former Dolphins head coach, is to interview in person this week. Carolina DC Ejiro Evero is also a candidate, as is the aforementioned Weaver.
The Ravens and Dolphins are also interviewing many of the same candidates as the Steelers.
Yesterday, the Giants finalized their deal with former Ravens coach John Harbaugh and the Falcons hired former Browns coach Kevin Stefanik.
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