Friday’s “First Call” has some details about a potential hurdle in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching search. One college candidate may be in the mix. A former Steeler is heading to New York to play for John Harbaugh.
And the surging Penguins have one more hill to climb on the western road trip.
Who is doing the interview?
According to an ESPN.com post, staff salary may be an issue when it comes to filling the Steelers’ head coaching job.
The post by Brooke Pryor cites “multiple league sources” saying that the organization’s long-standing philosophy around head coaching stability is attractive. However, there are “concerns” about the team’s “willingness to spend money in an effort to modernize.”
“It’s better than most, jobwise,” a “long-time coaching source” told Pryor. “They need to bump up salaries.”
The article goes on to state that Pittsburgh’s assistants are often compensated at a lower rate than normal by NFL standards, and that the staff itself is smaller than most in the league.
ESPN analysis from 2024 counted the Steelers at 18 assistants, tying them with the Indianapolis Colts for the smallest staff in the league last season. On average, the NFL has 24 assistants per team.
Pryor says, though, that it was Tomlin’s preference to have a smaller batch of assistants.
One quote in the story states, “Coaches will be interviewing Steelers brass as much as they will be interviewing the coach.”
Thus far, Jesse Minter became the Baltimore Ravens head coach. He had a virtual interview with the Steelers. Jeff Hafley had an online interview with Pittsburgh too, but chose to fill the Miami Dolphins opening after his visit there.
Late addition?
Might the Steelers extend their coaching search to the college ranks? Audacy Sports analyst Brian Baldinger seems to think so.
The film guru and former NFL offensive lineman said that he’s hearing the Steelers have an interest in Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
“Not out here trying to play reporter or doing any of that nonsense, but I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal,” Baldinger said at the 7:20 mark of his most recent edition of “The Best Football Show” video stream. “I think Mario Cristobal actually would really translate to the NFL. I watched his practice in the spring. The way Mario coached that team reminded me of what old-school coaches used to do.”
Cristobal was a big Steelers fan growing up. He was also once a candidate for the Pitt head coaching job.
Previously, there had been no indication that the Steelers had interest in the college ranks despite some chatter that they should investigate Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman or Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
Losing Leal
DeMarvin Leal is now a New York Giant. That’s according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. He posted that the Steelers defensive lineman signed a Reserve/Futures deal with the Giants on Thursday.
Leal was a third-round pick for Pittsburgh in 2022. But he only totaled one sack in his time here. He wound up with 35 tackles in 32 games with the Steelers.
Injuries and a lack of a specific fit on the defense got in the way of Leal meeting his potential here. The Texas A&M product appeared to be an intriguing swing candidate between defensive line and outside linebacker, but he never quite settled into either role.
Jack Sawyer has become a modified version of what Leal attempted to be, taking on an OLB job at 260 pounds as opposed to Leal who came out of school at 283.
The 25-year-old Leal also had to deal with neck surgery in 2024 after a bone spur and scoliosis were discovered. He also was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury as a rookie in 2022.
More sports
• Joe Starkey: Kyle Dubas is the star as Penguins return to Edmonton
• The Steelers are (likely) in the market for yet another QB. None of the options are ideal
• New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley slept in office as Pitt assistant: ‘I’d say it worked’
Looking to stay hot
The Penguins have won the first three games of their western road trip. They’ve beaten Seattle, Calgary and Edmonton by a combined score of 16-6.
Overall, the Penguins have now won five of their past six outings, and sit in second place of the Metropolitan Division with 61 points. That’s six back of first-place Carolina.
Pittsburgh concludes the trip with a game in Vancouver at 6 p.m. Sunday. The Canucks have only 39 points. That’s by far the fewest in the NHL.
The St. Louis Blues are their closest competition at the bottom of the Central Division with 46. Both teams have a massive goal differential of minus-50.
Vancouver has allowed 183 goals. That’s more than anyone else in hockey. Anaheim is next at 176.
The Canucks did manage to win their most recent game 4-3 over Washington. That halted a losing streak over 11 straight games.
After Sunday’s game, the Pens return home and have a three-day break before they face Chicago on Thursday night.