Dan Orlovsky gives passionate take on Steelers courting Marcus Freeman to replace Mike Tomlin

by: Nick Schultz 5 hours ago NickSchultz_7

For the first time in 19 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a coaching search. Mike Tomlin announced his decision to step down Tuesday following the franchise’s AFC Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, ending a decorated run.

As the franchise prepares to move forward, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky named the candidate he would call first. He said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman should top the list.

Freeman has already said he intends to stay with the Fighting Irish in 2026 despite NFL interest, although The Athletic previously reported the Steelers did background work on him in case Tomlin stepped away. But despite Freeman’s statement, Orlovsky said Pittsburgh should call him right away and go all-out to try and hire him.

“If I were the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think the first name that I would call would be Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame,” Orlovsky said Tuesday on NFL Live . “I would call Marcus Freeman and I don’t think I would get off the phone. I would do everything I could to throw everything I could at Marcus Freeman. He’s one of the great leaders in football right now – college or the NFL. I think he fits a lot of the characteristics that we’ve seen from Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher .

“It’s a new day in Pittsburgh. There, obviously, needs to be a rebuild and a restart. We’ve seen that character and conviction are the trademarks of their coaches rather than Xs and Os. Mike Tomlin, all-time great, and if I were the Steelers, I would get on the phone [with Freeman] today.”

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