Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding another candidate to their head coaching search. Steelers president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan want to learn more about San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak.
“The Steelers have submitted an interview request for 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak for their head coach vacancy, per source,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote Thursday on X.
Kubiak is in his fifth season on Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers staff and his first as the team’s offensive coordinator. He was the Niners’ offensive passing game specialist last season and served as the team’s assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023. Before that, he was a defensive quality control coach in 2021.
Kubiak is the son of longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak. His brother, Klint, is the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.
The Steelers have submitted an interview request for 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak for their head coach vacancy, per source. pic.twitter.com/yjgYGfDFuy
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 15, 2026
Shanahan has built himself quite the coaching tree, as Mike McDaniel, DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh have all coached under him. Ryans’ Houston Texans ended the Steelers’ season in a Wild Card playoff game last Monday, also closing the book on longtime head coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure.
At the end of the regular season, the 49ers’ attack ranked No. 6 in yards per game (351.4), No. 5 in passing yards per game (244.5) and No. 10 in points per game (25.7). Klay Kubiak has played a part in developing San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, who played nine regular-season games this season and passed for 240.8 yards per game.
Rooney said Wednesday that he isn’t going to limit his coaching search to leaders with a defensive background. Kubiak is proof of that.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Request to Interview Fast-Rising Assistant from Shanahan Tree
