NFL Analyst’s Bold Steelers Pitch: Steal Matt LaFleur from Packers to Fix QB Void

The Pittsburgh Steelers, an organization synonymous with stability and defensive prowess, have embarked on their first head coaching search in nearly two decades. The early list of candidates tells a familiar story: a heavy lean toward defensive coordinators, echoing the franchise’s historic identity. But what if the path to future relevance requires a radical, offensive-minded detour? ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has thrown a fascinating grenade into the conventional search process, proposing the Steelers execute a high-stakes heist: pry head coach Matt LaFleur away from the Green Bay Packers.

Orlovsky’s Provocative Blueprint for Steelers Relevance

While the Steelers have dutifully requested interviews with names like Panthers DC Ejiro Evero and Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, Dan Orlovsky sees a glaring missed opportunity. On ESPN, the former quarterback laid out a vision that would dramatically shift the franchise’s trajectory. “The first step I would [take] is then call Matt LaFleur, if I was the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I would jump at the opportunity to hire him,” Orlovsky stated. He didn’t stop there, coupling the coaching suggestion with a quarterback fix: “Then I would figure out a way to get Malik Willis as my quarterback. And then, all of a sudden, I’m in a situation where Pittsburgh now becomes a little more relevant because this fits that quarterback void they have.”

This proposal is bold on multiple fronts. It targets a sitting, successful head coach with a .700+ winning percentage. It suggests pairing him with a young, athletic quarterback in Malik Willis, whom LaFleur worked with in Tennessee, rather than focusing on the current in-house options. Orlovsky’s core thesis is that the Steelers’ historic quarterback void post-Ben Roethlisberger cannot be filled by a defensive-minded coach or a patchwork solution; it requires an offensive architect with a proven system and a specific plan.

The LaFleur Conundrum: Why Would Green Bay Let Him Go?

The feasibility of Orlovsky’s plan hinges on one major question: Is Matt LaFleur actually available? Rumors have percolated about a potential parting of ways between LaFleur and the Packers. He is entering the final year of his contract, and despite regular-season dominance, the team has suffered one-and-done playoff exits the last two seasons. The relationship with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is now in the past, and the franchise is fully in the Jordan Love era.

However, significant logic argues against a LaFleur departure. Consider these key points:

• Proven Regular Season Success: LaFleur’s .712 regular-season win percentage is among the best in NFL history for a head coach.
• Successful Transition: He just guided Jordan Love to a breakout season and a playoff victory, validating his offensive system beyond Aaron Rodgers.
• Timing is Illogical: If the Packers wanted to move on, doing so after the season, when seven other jobs were open, would have made sense. Firing him now puts them at a massive competitive disadvantage in a hiring cycle that’s already in full swing.

The most likely scenario is a contract extension in Green Bay. Yet, the mere existence of uncertainty, however slight, is what fuels speculative scenarios like Orlovsky’s. For the Steelers, the question becomes: is it worth a clandestine call to gauge true availability?

Analyzing the Fit: LaFleur’s Scheme in the Steel City

From a pure football perspective, the fit is intellectually compelling. Matt LaFleur represents the modern, offensive-centric head coach the Steelers have arguably lacked for a generation. His scheme, rooted in the Shanahan tree, emphasizes:

• Outside Zone Running: A foundation that would maximize Najee Harris’s talents and control the game clock.
• Play-Action and Bootlegs: Concepts that simplify reads for quarterbacks and create explosive plays.
• Pre-Snap Motion and Misdirection: Tools to create defensive confusion and leverage athleticism.

This system is quarterback-friendly by design. It made Jordan Love a Pro Bowler, resurrected Ryan Tannehill’s career in Tennessee, and maximized the twilight of Aaron Rodgers’ MVP years. For a Steelers team with uncertainty under center—whether it’s Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, or a new face—this structured, creative approach is precisely what the offense needs. LaFleur would instantly provide a cohesive offensive identity, something that has been absent since the peak of the “Killer B’s” era.

The Malik Willis connection is the wildcard. Orlovsky’s suggestion to acquire the Titans backup is a specific bet on LaFleur’s ability to develop raw, dual-threat talent, having worked with Willis as a rookie. It’s a high-risk, high-reward proposition that would certainly make Pittsburgh a fascinating watch.

Prediction: A Dream Scenario That Stays a Dream

While Orlovsky’s outside-the-box thinking is commendable and highlights the Steelers’ core issue, this scenario is almost certainly not going to happen. The practical barriers are too high.

First, the Packers are highly unlikely to fire or allow LaFleur to walk. They have a young, cost-controlled quarterback playing at an elite level in his system. Starting over now would be organizational malpractice. Second, the Steelers’ own process appears focused on a more traditional, defense-first profile, with a likely plan to pair that coach with a dedicated offensive coordinator. Third, the asset cost to trade for a coach under contract—let alone one of LaFleur’s stature—would be prohibitive, likely involving multiple high draft picks.

The more probable outcome is that the Steelers hire a strong defensive leader like Mike Tomlin’s successor and make a splash offensive coordinator hire to address the quarterback and scheme issues. Names like Kliff Kingsbury or Frank Reich could be targets for that OC role, attempting to import offensive innovation without the head coaching coup.

Conclusion: The Value of Asking the Right Question

Dan Orlovsky’s proposal for the Steelers to pursue Matt LaFleur will almost certainly remain a provocative “what if” segment on television. However, its true value lies not in its practicality, but in its diagnosis. Orlovsky has correctly identified that the Steelers’ search cannot be solely about maintaining a defensive culture; it must be a forward-looking mission to solve the offensive equation for the next decade.

The call to “steal LaFleur” is a metaphor for the scale of ambition required. In a league dominated by explosive offense and franchise quarterbacks, the Steelers cannot afford a safe, introverted hire. They need a visionary for the offensive side of the ball, whether that person holds the title of head coach or offensive coordinator. Orlovsky’s blueprint may be a fantasy, but it sets a necessary benchmark: the next era of Steelers football will be defined by how they address the quarterback position and the scheme around it. The organization would be wise to channel the boldness of the idea, even if the specific target is out of reach. The future in Pittsburgh depends on finding their own version of an offensive answer, not just continuing a defensive tradition.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.