$70 million? “Keep it.” Former Rams legend with two Super Bowl rings stuns the NFL by turning down the Ravens and Lions — sets his sights on Pittsburgh with a bold promise to the Steelers

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – December 25, 2025

In a league where money and long-term guarantees often dictate every major decision, Chase Blackburn has once again defied convention. The former Los Angeles Rams coach, a two-time Super Bowl champion, reportedly walked away from offers approaching $70 million from the Ravens and Lions — choosing instead to focus his next chapter on Pittsburgh.

League sources describe both offers as comprehensive, long-term packages built for security and control. Seattle offered familiarity. Washington offered a clean slate and authority. Either path could have closed the book on Blackburn’s career in comfort. But for a coach who has already reached the summit twice, comfort was never the point.

Pittsburgh represents something fundamentally different.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are defined by tradition, physicality, and an expectation that never fades — regardless of roster or era. Championships are not marketing tools here; they are the standard. Sources close to Blackburn say that standard is precisely what drew him in. In Pittsburgh, reputation means nothing without daily accountability.

The timing of the decision only sharpens the message. After a turbulent stretch with the Rams, Blackburn could have chosen stability elsewhere. Instead, he gravitated toward a franchise where patience is earned, not given, and where the margin for error is unforgiving. Heinz Field in January is not a sanctuary — it is a test.

“Some decisions can’t be measured by numbers,” Chase Blackburn said. “There are big contracts and lifetime guarantees out there, but my heart points to Pittsburgh — to the toughness, to the standard, to the responsibility that comes with that logo. If there’s one final journey where I can give everything I have, I want it to begin and end where accountability is demanded every single day.”

Around NFL circles, the move is viewed less as a negotiation and more as a declaration of intent. After two Super Bowl rings, Blackburn is no longer chasing security or résumé padding. He is chasing impact — the chance to leave a mark inside a culture that values substance over spectacle.

For the Steelers, this isn’t simply about adding experience. It’s about aligning with a mindset that mirrors their own — one built on discipline, physical football, and unwavering expectations. And if Blackburn’s vision comes to life, Pittsburgh may not just be gaining a proven coach — it may be reclaiming a piece of the identity that has defined the franchise for generations.