Familiar faces continue to rise in the ranks
Following the Steelers’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said, “I have a feeling a lot of things are going to change around here.”
Fast-forward almost three weeks, and absolutely nothing has changed regarding the coaching staff. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer and DC Teryl Austin remain on staff despite being under the microscope.
As the status quo continues, two former Steelers who would have been strong additions are potentially being promoted.
Former Steelers Swiss-army knife, Antwaan Randle El, was plucked by new Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson, becoming his assistant head coach and wide receivers coach – the latter being his former position with the Detroit Lions under Johnson’s tutelage. Randle El is a Super Bowl XL champion and former first-team all-pro special teamer. He illustrated one of the most memorable plays in team history:
Antwaan Randle El’s perfect fourth quarter 43-yard reverse pass touchdown to the #Steelers‘ Hines Ward, the game’s MVP — the only touchdown pass thrown by a wide receiver in #SuperBowl history.
Super Bowl XL, tonight in 2006 pic.twitter.com/OSzv2kWRSC
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 5, 2023
In addition to Randle El, Larry Foote, the former anchor of two Super Bowl champion defenses and one of the best units in NFL history, recently interviewed for the Lions’ vacant defensive coordinator job. This past season Foote served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ILB coach and passing game coordinator. He’s been coaching since 2015, as he was hired by the Arizona Cardinals just a year after he retired there.
Let’s set the record straight—this isn’t a feel-good fantasy, “only hire them because they were former Steelers.” The proof is in the pudding that they are good coaches who should hold down offensive and defensive coordinator roles very soon.
Receiver and inside linebacker are also two positions that could use some new blood, or at least an extra brain in the room, especially when it comes to the wideout room. They are also both under 45 years old and don’t have an expiration date anytime soon.
They would also have been hires that energized not only the team but also the fanbase. And we can certainly use any ounce of fuel right now in the Steel City.