NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said on "The Best Football Show" podcast that the Pittsburgh Steelers are "very interested" in Miami Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal for their head coaching vacancy. He also added that he thinks Cristobal "would really translate to the NFL" based on what he saw at a Miami spring practice.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The Steelers are reportedly “very interested” in Miami HC Mario Cristobal for their HC vacancy, says @BaldyNFL
— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 22, 2026
“Not out here trying to play reporter or doing any of that nonsense, but I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal, the coach at the… pic.twitter.com/37KJZcLnYR
Could Mario Cristobal go to the NFL?
The Steelers' job opened this month when Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 seasons, a rare moment of change for one of the NFL's most stable franchises. Pittsburgh is already deep into the interview process, and the team has publicly listed multiple virtual and in-person interviews with NFL assistants, including Brian Flores, Ejiro Evero, Jeff Hafley, Klay Kubiak, Jesse Minter, Nate Scheelhaase, Chris Shula and Anthony Weaver. Cristobal is not listed among the candidates the club has confirmed.
The Steelers are one of the few jobs in pro football with the organizational history and patience that could appeal to any coach.
Baldinger's comments stand right now as just a rumor and maybe a personal connecting-of-the-dots. Even Baldinger mentioned he didn't want to "play reporter" when throwing the Cristobal-Steelers comment out there.
Brian Baldinger on him "hearing" the Steelers are very interested in University of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal for their vacant head coach position. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/kTTn5J4zam
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 22, 2026
When the Hurricanes hired Cristobal in December 2021, the school touted him as a homecoming hire returning to his alma mater, where he previously played. And it has surely paid off for the program so far. With the Canes making it all the way to the CFP title game, there is a line of powerful people in the Miami community who would be willing to make sure he stays.
At the end of the day, Cristobal is tied to the school by history, contract structure, and a connection to South Florida football. Unless this rumor moves forward with something more solid, Canes fans don't need to sound the alarm bells just yet.