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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.19.26
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Ignored Questioner
10:53
The Steelers aren't going to keep Johnu Smith are they?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:53
I wouldn't think so.
Ignored Questioner
10:53
What do you think the free agent value for Gainwell will be?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:54
I'd give him the same contract as Jaylen Warren as long as the new coach believes he'll be effective in his offense.
SC Steeler
10:54
Good morning Ray.  A statement rather than a question:  Appreciate all the good work over the years by you and your colleagues at PG.  Fresh out of college (PSU) in 1975 I  headed south from my home in PA (Beaver Falls) for work. When the digital era arrived, a PG online subscription became my link to staying in touch with the Steelers, Pens, and Pirates as well as general news from Western PA.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:54
Thanks SC Steeler!
Turk in MD
10:54
Hi Ray. Isn’t Mike McCarthy the exact opposite of a coaching profile they are interested in. Is ARII going to break the mold?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:55
He might, but as I wrote above there is nothing wrong with talking with a number of coaches about the position. Rooney himself said last week he didn't think Tomlin would be their guy in 2007 when they first met. But he was so impressive that he ended up being the guy.
SC Steeler
10:56
sorry…hit send by mistake.  Anyway…i hope you and the others at PG Sports find a way to keep providing the same in-depth coverage going forward.  Double or triple the subscription price and sign me up.  You guys are my first read almost every morning and my one remaining link to home (50 years after I moved south).
Lou
10:56
Hi Ray. The NFL needs to invest some of that 23 billion in profit into a rapid reply system that is not on the field and can make any call correct in a couple minutes. Do you think they would do something like this or as long as they are billions in the black…well too bad and suck it up? Whatever they are doing now is not working.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
Maybe they need more former players involved in the replay review process. Stop complicating things with all these rules about becoming a runner or surviving the ground, whatever archaic rules they come up with to protect themselves. Just let more common sense in the room when these decisions are made.
Wadman
10:58
Hey Ray…. Tomlin gets dinged for seven straight playoff losses, but gets little credit for getting mostly average teams with less than average quarterback play into those games. Of those seven losses, is it not true that they were the betting favorite in only one of them? How many of those teams had no reasonable right to be there in the first place?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:00
I don't buy that. Houston's CJ Stroud was terrible and the Steelers couldn't find a way to beat the Texans. It was at home. They finally had a QB who could make a difference. It's true they need to turn the page and retool, but I think you're doing is excuse-making.
Easy Like Sunday Morning
11:00
Can you tell us about the process the Steelers are using to conduct their head coaching interviews? Who does the interviews in each round? What types of things are try discussing in round 1 vs round 2? Do they do 1:1 interviews or do multiple people interview the candidates at once?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:01
In the zooms I think they're just trying to get a feel for each individual. I'm sure some personnel and schemes issues are discussed, but the in-depth interviews are the in-person ones. That's where the Steelers will really get to know their candidates.
Easy Like Sunday Morning
11:02
Which assistant coaches are most likely to be retained by a new head coach?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:02
I doubt any of them. All are free to seek employment elsewhere.
Sam
11:03
Hi Ray, the Patriots and Steelers both missed on their first attempt at replacing their HOF QB a year apart from each other.  The Steelers never fell off a cliff roster wise or record wise like the Pats did to draft high again, but I think it underscores the need for this reset and the worst thing they can do is bring in Mike McCarthy (gag) and be "open" to having Aaron Rodgers come back.  Rip the band aid off, risk stinking for a few years (3 straight losing seasons for NE), a position yourself with younger players, a more modern philosophy, and most importantly don't miss at QB again.  Because now we're watching New England get a free pass back to the Super Bowl and it's infuriating, especially living up here.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
Good post Sam
TheStandardisBeinginContention
11:04
Confused about Tomlin’s contract. Does his resignation void the option? If he wants to coach in 27 could the Steelers still receive draft picks in return?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
That's unclear right now because all coaching contracts have different language in them. Without knowing the fine print in the contract I cannot answer your question.
Retire21.
11:05
With McDermott following MT, would you agree that William and Mary won’t do? I did not think the world could be so cruel..
Ray Fittipaldo
11:05
I think I'm going back to my old schoooooooool.
Chill Dave
11:06
With Tomlin gone and no clear QB, will Steelers fans finally get what they want in 2026 -- a losing season?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
Hey, the last time they had a losing season the prize was Ben Roethlisberger.
Wide Right
11:07
Ray, when are the coaches still in the playoffs allowed to do face to face interviews? Will the Steelers wait for guys like Chris Shula?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Shula and Scheelhaase cannot interview in-person until Jan. 26, the day after the conference title games.
tjc
11:07
Do you think Tomlin will consider the Bills or vice versa?  Nice situation to jump into
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
I think that job goes to the top of the list along with the Ravens. The Steelers next.
SP
11:09
Ray, Isnt it strange that after 19 years Mike Tomlin delivers a cookie cutter media statement and disappears? It makes me think he did not resign entirely of his own free will. Are was less than honest when Bruce Arians "retired". Is it possible he told MT they were not picking up his 2027 option so Tomlin chose to resign rather than be a lame duck in 2026?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
Art Rooney was asked about the option year in his contract and did not answer whether he would have exercised it. All he said was he wanted Tomlin back for the 2026 season. I agree with you that a lame duck season would be hard for the coach and for the team. Not a lot of teams or coaches go down that road. Maybe that was part of Tomlin's calculus when he made his decision. Why put himself in that position? If you're Rooney, how would you have picked up the option after another failed playoff result?
RJ
11:12
IMHO the Steelers really need to go all in on an offensive minded HC. It's a scoring league. Look at the Rams, Bears,Seahawks and Pats from this weekend. Yes, the Steelers need a QB, so Ray, what is needed more....
Ray Fittipaldo
11:12
All those teams have pretty good defenses too...
RJ
11:12
IMHO the Steelers need to do several things. 1st trade TJ to a contender (Buffalo), draft a receiver in the 1st round, give Howard a legit shot at QB and lastly don't bring back Ramsey or Heyward.
Linebacker Lounge
11:13
Can’t see Watt and Heywerd back under their current contracts.Would think something gives under a new regime. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
I think the new coach will have a say in those matters. Ane he should.
tjc
11:13
I think bringing in an offensive coach that is young (like Klint Kubiak) would be great and then try to hire someone like mcdermott if he would willing to be DC again.  What do you think about that strategy (versus a young DC and then a young OC)
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Pairing a young offensive mind with a veteran DC or head coach turned DC is a good idea, but the new head coach has to be onboard with the hire. He should have a chance to hire his own staff. Rooney mentioned that last week when he did that interview.
Sean from Canton Ohio
11:15
I just read that Weaver from the Dolphins is getting a second interview. I don’t know much about him except that he’s the defensive coordinator on a team with a defense that isn’t very good. That along with Mike McCarthy being interviewed doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence that the Steelers are on the right track. Do you think they are just doing their due diligence and will ultimately land on a young, innovative coordinator from one of the better teams in the league?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
Let's see who the finalists re before we make any rash judgments about the process.
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