With the Steelers' apparently having decided to elevate quarterbacks coach Matt Canada to replace Randy Fichtner as offensive coordinator, the next big hire for the team -- and perhaps more important -- will be who will coach the offensive line.
Tomlin chose not to retain Shaun Sarrett after two seasons as the offensive line coach, and it would seem that with the line undergoing perhaps its biggest year of turnover in more than a decade, the Steelers might be in the market for a veteran line coach.
Sarrett, who coached under both Mike Munchak and Sean Kugler, carried on many of the teachings of those two seasoned mentors. But he also had a veteran offensive line that was well schooled in their teachings.
With left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and left guard Matt Feiler both headed toward potential free agency and the potential retirement of center Maurkice Pouncey, the Steelers' next offensive line coach will be charged with the possibility of replacing 40 or 60 percent of the line.
The Steelers will need a teacher, not a maintainer, as right guard David DeCastro could be the lone true veteran holdover coming back. Tackles Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner -- if he is re-signed -- and guard Kevin Dotson all have less than 20 games starting experience in the NFL.
And there are some coaches available who would fit that bill.
Topping that list would be former Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, who was fired by Jacksonville at the conclusion of the 2020 season after being with that team since 2015.
Marrone has been an offensive line coach at a number of colleges, including Georgia Tech, Georgia and Tennessee, and in the NFL with the Jets, Saints and Jaguars.
And much like Munchak, who came to the Steelers after being fired as head coach of the Titans, perhaps he would like to take a step back to his roots. Marrone also is familiar with the Steelers. He spent time with them in training camp as a player in the late '80s.
Chargers offensive line coach James Campen also would fit the bill if Los Angeles does not retain him. The Chargers fired head coach Anthony Lynn at the end of the season and a new head coach might want to go with his own line coach.
Campen was the Packers' offensive line coach from 2007 through 2017, also coordinating the Packers' run game in 2018. When the staff was replaced there after that season, Campen went to Cleveland as associate head coach/offensive line coach under Freddy Kitchens before joining the Chargers this season.
Longtime Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand also has an NFL track record, having coached the Bears' line from 2005 through 2009, and then again in 2018 and 2019.
Plus, his lines at Notre Dame produced pro-ready prospects such as Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanely, Nick Martin, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey.
Finally, longtime college and NFL assistant Hal Hunter Jr. has a lengthy resume working with offensive lines.
He began his career as an outside linebackers/strength and conditioning coach at William & Mary, Tomlin's alma mater, in 1982, then moved on through Pitt, Akron, Vanderbilt, Indiana and North Carolina before jumping to the NFL with the Chargers from 2006 through 2011, becoming offensive coordinator in 2012.
From 2013 through 2015, he was with the Colts, then spent a season with the Browns before his most recent stint with the Giants in 2018 and 2019.
Hunter also is the son of former Steelers offensive line coach Hal Hunter Sr. (1985-1988).
Surely, Tomlin has some other veteran line coaches he would like to speak with, but those are four who would fit the bill.