As the 2025 college football season progresses, the Penn State Nittany Lions find themselves in a precarious position, still hunting for a new leader after parting ways with a veteran coach.
The team’s sluggish 3-3 opening stretch prompted the dismissal of James Franklin, a fixture in the program for years, yet weeks have passed without a successor stepping in.
With the majority of open head coaching roles across the sport now snapped up, Penn State’s choices are growing slimmer by the day. This scarcity has sparked creative speculation among supporters and experts, pushing discussions toward unconventional candidates to steer the Nittany Lions forward.
Adding fuel to the fire, ex-NFL signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger has thrown his weight behind an audacious idea: bringing Pittsburgh Steelers boss Mike Tomlin to the college ranks.
Tomlin has helmed the Steelers for nearly two decades, guiding the squad to a Super Bowl victory alongside Roethlisberger back in 2008 and achieving an unmatched streak of 18 straight seasons without a losing record in the NFL. However, fan frustration boiled over during the Steelers’ recent Week 13 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, as boos and “Fire Tomlin” chants echoed through Acrisure Stadium.
Roethlisberger argues that a change of scenery could unlock even greater potential for Tomlin in the college game.
“It’s being talked about around here a lot: Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said on a recent segment of the “Footbahlin” podcast.
“I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin. But maybe it’s best for him, too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether that’s in the pros, maybe go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do in Penn State? He would probably go win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.”
The Nittany Lions’ pursuit suffered another blow this week when their apparent first-choice candidate, BYU’s Kalani Sitake, opted to stay put in Provo, revealing his commitment on Tuesday night. As alternatives emerge, figures such as Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Ohio State’s offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, and ex-New York Giants skipper Brian Daboll are entering the conversation as possible fits.
Meanwhile, Tomlin’s 6-6 Steelers gear up to rebound in Week 14, facing off against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday in a pivotal AFC North clash.
