The 2024 head-coaching carousel has come to an end with the Commanders hiring Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their next head coach.
However, with several highly regarded coaches still available to join staffs around the league, the Steelers should do their best to add one of them.
Among the coaches who did not land jobs during the cycle is former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. The 48-year-old was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 and Pittsburgh would surely benefit from having him on its staff in 2024.
The Steelers similarly added Brian Flores, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, in 2022 as their senior defensive assistant & linebackers coach. Vrabel could follow suit after serving as the Texans linebackers coach from 2014-16 and defensive coordinator in 2017 before joining Tennessee.
Vrabel also already has a good rapport with Pittsburgh’s new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith was Vrabel’s OC with the Titans from 2019-20 and the two could now pick up right where they left off in the Steel City.
The Steelers love bringing in players and staff who have previous ties to the organization. Vrabel certainly fits the bill as he was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1997 and went on to play four seasons with the team.
Adding Vrabel to head coach Mike Tomlin’s staff might only be a one-year flier as it was with Flores. But if Vrabel can bring a similar impact as Flores did, he would be worth every penny.
The defense allowed the ninth fewest rushing yards per game (108.1) and 10th fewest points per game (20.4) in the league with Flores on the coaching staff in 2022.
Vrabel must be disappointed he won’t be a head coach next season. But if the Steelers give him a chance to showcase his coaching ability in 2024, he could very well be signing a head-coaching deal this time next year.
