Steelers New Offensive Coordinator Eddie Faulkner "Super Excited For Opportunity" Despite It Feeling Bittersweet

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to spark a rather dormant offense that has 16.6 points per game this season. Matt Canada was relieved of his duties as the leader of the unit after he wasn't able to show enough consistent improvement during his tenure, and now it will be Eddie Faulkner taking over as offensive coordinator. Quarterback's coach Mike Sullivan will now be calling plays on game days. Speaking to the media for the first time in his new role on Thanksgiving, Faulkner expressed his excitement for what will be a new challenge for the 46-year-old. 

Faulkner spent time in the Steelers organization as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Wisconsin in 2001 before moving to the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos. He has a lengthy college coaching resume with stops at four different schools before he became the Steelers running back coaching in 2019. 

"I'm super excited about the opportunity," he said as he opened his press conference. "I'm thankful to Coach Tomlin, the Rooney family, Omar [Khan], and anyone involved in making the decision to give me an opportunity."

Even though he expressed great pleasure for the chance to be a coordinator at the game's highest level for the first time, it's come with mixed emotions. He just had to watch a close friend walk out the door. 

"Matt Canada is a friend of mine," he said via Chris Adamski of TribLive. "I care about his well-being. I care about his family. Our wives are friends. Our parents are friends. Our kids are friends. I couldn't say enough good about Matt Canada, so it's a little bittersweet in that way."    

He continued on that just because Canada is no longer with the organization, it doesn't mean they still feel without blame. Many of the players and coaches that remain on staff were still a part of the offensive struggles that have persisted through Canada's tenure. 

"When you sit back and see all that goes on and all that's being said about him [Canada] and the offense, and I'm speaking for the offense when I say we all felt that," Faulkner said also via Adamski. "We are all part of that. So, no one is absolving themselves from anything that's happened in that regard. We feel like we let him down." 

While it must certainly be tough to watch someone with whom he detailed a tight relationship leave the organization, his focus now squarely turns to the task at hand. As Coach Tomlin said during his press conference, this move was made to see improvement from the offense as soon as possible, not with some eye towards the future. 

It will be up to him and Sullivan to try and get the best out of an offense featuring plenty of weapons in Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris, and Pat Freiermuth.   

Steelers' Faulkner Firmly Focused On Task At Hand

The Steelers at 6-4 are still firmly in the playoff picture, but will need to step it up if they want it to stay that way. The Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and those pesky Cincinnati Bengals are right behind Pittsburgh in the AFC playoff chase. So while many wonder about the future of who will be running Pittsburgh's offense, those in the organization are focused on holding onto their playoff positioning. 

Faulkner told the media assembled at the Steelers practice facility on Thursday via DK Pittsburgh Sports that thoughts about the future were far from his mind. He knew the team had a tough contest coming up in less than a week after his promotion. 

"The way this all happened, there's no time to get caught up in all of that. We've got to play the Bengals in a couple of days and that was my sole focus. There was no, 'Oh this could segue into this or that.' No. This was all about getting ready for the Bengals."  

He stressed that communication is going to be key, whether it be with his play-caller Sullivan, players to other players, or coaches to coaches. Pittsburgh's offense has had some communication issues that were highlighted against the Cleveland Browns between Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson. He said that he hopes his detail-oriented, no-stones-unturned approach to handling the running back room will translate to the coordinator job where he's now in charge of getting all the positions on the unit on the same page.

What did you think of what Faulkner had to say in his first press conference as a coordinator? Do you think the offense will change much under his direction? Comment below!

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