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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.19.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:28
Welcome and let's get started.
Adam Brown
10:28
How much say will Khan have over draft picks and free agent signings now versus before with Tomlin?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:29
I think the new coach will have his say in personnel to a point, but a coach with the tenure Tomlin had obviously carried more weight. That's only natural.
Takoma Tom
10:29
trying to be realistic that the team is at least 2-3 years away from being truly competitive isn’t it time to trade or cut a lot of the over 30 players?  Trade TJ for whatever you can get.  Ask Cam to retire.  Cut Ramsey that will be a good start.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:30
They won't cut or trade all of those guys over 30, but I do think this is an opportunity for the Steelers to reset. The new coach is going to want a fresh start and to build the team in his vision. Let's face it. He might want to get younger and develop his own talent rather than having these older guys around for only a year or two before they move on or retire.
CT Steel
10:30
Ray thanks for chat.
2 quick things.  
Did our GM fail us after watching Kirk & Shaheed flourish in playoffs
Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
It's not the Steelers' fault Kirk was injured last year. They wanted to acquire him, but he got injured before the deadline. I'm not sure why it didn't happen this year.
Lenny from NY
10:31
Good morning Ray. Why do you think Joe Brady’s name hasn’t been mentioned  for an interview. IMO he’s very good. He out coached Tomlin and has done very well with Allen. Would be good with a young QB. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:32
Maybe as an OC. And he might be out of a job now that McDermott has been fired.
10:33
I wrote something this morning that explains everything about the process from here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/01/19/nfl-steelers-c...
Rocky Mtn Yunzer
10:33
Thanks for the chat Ray.  Do you know/can you explain how interviews with coaches who are still in the playoffs (such as the Rams' coaches who the Steelers are supposedly speaking to) are handled?  Are they allowed to meet in person next week after the championship games during the off week before the Super Bowl?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:33
Question for previous answer
Takoma Tom
10:34
I don’t see how bringing Rodgers back will help the team in the long run.  Maybe win a few more games and get a worse draft pick.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:34
I agree especially with a new coach coming in.
Takoma Tom
10:35
I think Davis Mills is worth signing in free agency.  He might be
Ray Fittipaldo
10:35
After Sunday the Texans might want him to be their starter!
tjc
10:35
Do you think the Steelers will have a coach in place by the Super Bowl?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:35
I think that is their hope, but the timeline for interviewing Rams assistants could complicate things.
tjc
10:36
Do you think the Steelers should be aggressive in Malik Willis or Mac Jones?  or go a different route?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:36
Have to wait to see who the coach is. The new coach is going to have a big say in who the next QB is.
Dave from T.O.
10:36
Hi Ray - enjoy your write-ups and chats. Hoping they continue for many years! With the calendar moving along, the new HC will have a very condensed schedule whenever they’re hired. Filling out the coaching staff would be job one and with viable OCs and DCs taking other jobs, is there extra pressure on a younger coach (less experienced and with fewer contacts) vs what a more experienced coach would be able to accomplish in that regard? Does that kind of force ARII and Khan to look harder at Flores or McCarthy?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:38
You are right. Former head coaches have experience in putting together staffs. The more important thing is teams that hire sooner rather than later get the pick of assistant coaches who are looking for jobs. Many assistants have families and want to know where they'll be working next season. They cannot necessarily pin their hopes on someone who might be hired.
Beaver Falls Kid
10:40
Hi Ray. If you had one game (Super Bowl) on the line and could choose your QB from these players in their prime, who would you pick? Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Steve Young. Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:40
Rodgers or Roethlisberger
tjc
10:40
Do you think they go QB in the draft (if they can get Simpson) or WR/DB in the first 2 rounds and see if there is a QB with upside in the middle and see if they luck out with Howard, Draft pick or free agent.  I think it is safe to say Rudolph is a backup for life...
Ray Fittipaldo
10:40
Picking at 21 I'm not sure they can get the QB of their future. I know people don't want to hear it, but the 2027 class is looking better.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:41
What veterans should be traded or released this off season to recharge the team? I’m thinking Watt, J Smith, Queen, and Ramsey to start.  Who is on your list?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:41
Cut them, keep them or trade them (my yearly look at the roster decisions) is coming out this week. I don't want to spoil the fun.
tjc
10:42
Do you think Tomlin will coach in the next two years?  if so, what do you think the Steelers will get for it?  -OR do you think Tomlin will wait it out until the Steelers get nothing and then get back in it?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:43
Tomlin hasn't done an interview so we have no idea on his future endeavors. He might not even know at this point. Bill Cowher never thought he'd find a long-term fit in TV, but he did. He never went back. Others go back. It's all about what those guys find out about themselves when they're out of the league.
79 Buccos
10:44
Ray,  Thanks for all of your work these years at PG.  It is my go to for our sports since I live in the Carolinas.  If Rodgers retires or moves on and the Steelers wait until the 2027 draft for a QB, what would you do with the draft capital of the upcoming draft?  Give me your top three position picks and anyone you would trade up a few spots for in the Class of .26.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:45
Improve the roster while you wait to get the QB in place. So  my three biggest needs are: WR, S and CB. Of course a lot depends on some of the veterans they have to decide on, but those are my top three needs as of right now.
529
10:45
In hindsight is the original Minkah Fitzpatrick trade their worst move in the last decade? The Steelers were gifted a tank year in a deep QB draft when their 37 year old QB blew out his elbow. Instead, they traded that chance away for a smoke and mirrors 8-8 season and they've been on the QB carousel ever since.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:46
You can make that argument, but everyone knows Art Rooney's feelings on the subject. He reiterated his beliefs last week when he did a news conference. He's going to try to win every single year.
The Dude
10:46
Is there anything that can be done to fix the obvious officiating problem in the NFL? Would full time officials make a difference? How about a comprehensive evaluation system to weed out guys who make bad calls regularly? Or maybe clarifying/simplifying some of the rules?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:48
Lots of layers to the matter, but the Bills-Broncos game did not look good for the league. At least take some time to go over the INT that decided the game. It seems arbitrary now when they go to replay and when they don't. Everything is magnified in the playoffs so they need to get that rectified. Would full-time officials help? Maybe. I honestly think they need to inject some common sense into their rules too. The whole thing about what is a catch and what isn't is ruining the game.
Ignored Questioner
10:49
Do you think the Steelers would trade Watt?  If so, would they get only a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:50
They have to consider their options. Can he return to his previous form? If he does he might be worth the money. No one is saying Myles Garrett isn't playing up to his contract. You're hearing this noise because Watt had a down season. The Steelers have to evaluate his play and come to their own conclusions about where he is as a player.
Butcher
10:51
Ray, thank you is always for the chats. Hopefully things are moving forward to either save the paper or find a new landing spot for you all. Bit of a shocking week, never thought I'd actually see Tomlin step down. And I'm 100% sure that he decided to step down. Regardless I've been interested at the coaching interview decisions. Very interested in Chris Shula, and love the fact that Brian Flores is getting a second visit. But Mike McCarthy? Hopefully this is just a lay of the land you're from Pittsburgh and we feel we should interview you. More because of his age and his recent playoff success issues. What are your thoughts on the Mike McCarthy interviews?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:52
'It's never bad to cast a wide net. He beat the Steelers in a Super Bowl so they know he knows how to win one. He also knows Omar Khan when they worked together with the Saints.
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