Brian Flores and Mike McCarthy are in the running for the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching position that opened following Mike Tomlin’s resignation.

The Steelers are set to conduct interviews with the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, on Tuesday, and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach, Mike McCarthy, on Wednesday. Additionally, they plan to interview Dolphins defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver, in person.

They have already completed virtual interviews with several candidates, including the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiac, and the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, Chris Shula. They also spoke with Jeff Hafley, the former Packers defensive coordinator, who has since taken a coaching position with the Dolphins.

Flores, who worked as a defensive assistant for the Steelers in 2022, is 44, while McCarthy, 62, has a local connection as a Pittsburgh native who led the Packers to victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. He was also considered for the Titans job but reportedly withdrew.

McCarthy has rejected other job inquiries and is focusing on the Steelers role, where he is seen as a strong candidate.

Both have distinct coaching philosophies, with Flores known for his defensive strategies refined under Bill Belichick, while McCarthy is widely recognized for his offensive expertise and has played a significant role in the development of quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.

Pittsburgh’s traditional approach is to recruit younger coordinators, though the interest in both Flores and McCarthy indicates a broader mindset from team president Art Rooney II in this hiring process.

“It’s to have an open mind,” he stated. “When we had Mike in for his first interview, I certainly wasn’t expecting that he was going to be our next head coach. I think you go through the process and be diligent, and hopefully you come out with the right guy.”