The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a tricky situation as the 2023 season has quickly collapsed following consecutive losses against two-win teams. Mike Tomlin seems to be losing his locker room and what was once looked at as an easy trip to the postseason is no longer close to a guarantee. The overwhelming majority of football fans know one thing is for sure, and that's the crucial need for the team to bring in a brilliant offensive mind in 2024. The duo of Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan is unlikely to lead the way past 2023, which means an external candidate will probably be brought in.
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Pittsburgh Steelers interim Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan stands and works with quarterback Kenny Pickett during a 2023 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Tomlin has had a horrible stretch of coordinator hires on both sides of the ball. Names like Matt Canada, Randy Fichtner, Keith Butler and Teryl Austin will all make any loyal Steelers fan go crazy. If Pittsburgh continues their December collapse, but decides against firing Tomlin, the new offensive play-caller he hires in 2024 could either save his job or ultimately lead to his time in the Steel City coming to an end.
Whether Omar Khan and Art Rooney II assist in the offensive coordinator search will remain to be seen, but a top candidate could unexpectedly become available if the Washington Commanders decide to fire Head Coach, Ron Rivera. Typically, when a new head coach is brought into an organization, he will be the one making up the coaching staff. Rivera being fired could lead to the Commanders revamping a lot inside of their building.
If that becomes the case in Washington and ownership makes the decision to bring in an offensive-minded coach, Commanders current play-caller, Eric Bieniemy, could be looking for a new home after just one season with Washington. He would be the perfect guy to come in and try to help Kenny Pickett and the franchise figure out if he is truly the future at the quarterback position.
Craig Hudson / Washington Post
Commanders assistant head coach and Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy speaks to the media during an introductory news conference following him being hired by Washington.
It's not certain that a Rivera exit would lead to Bieniemy leaving as well, but it is absolutely possible based on how new head coaches like to operate. Bieniemy was hired by Washington after he was ready to lead an offense on his own without the help of Andy Reid. While the Commanders are just 4-9, Sam Howell's resurgence has been very fun to watch.
Washington may have found their franchise quarterback and Bieniemy is a big part of the reason why. Howell was second in the NFL in passing yards entering Week 14, but has struggled with turnovers as he has thrown 14 interceptions. Overall, though, the offensive mastermind has proven he can work with a young signal-caller in order to make him a formidable quarterback.
Howell has seven games of 290 passing yards or more and has thrown for two or more touchdowns in five different games in 2023. Comparably, Pickett has not eclipsed 290 yards through the air once and only has one game with multiple touchdown passes. Bieniemy would be the perfect person to come in and get the absolute best out of Pickett, something that has not seemed to happen yet.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A6263-544x306.jpg "Steelers Kenny Pickett")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) stands on the field at St. Vincent College as Pittsburgh practice during 2023 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Must Go All In On Bieniemy If He Becomes Available
Pittsburgh is going to be in the market for a new offensive coordinator in 2024. It would be a disaster if Tomlin decided to retain one, or both, that are currently in charge. Offensive assistant, Glenn Thomas isn't the answer, either. It is time for Tomlin and the front office to do a search throughout the entire league in order to bring in the most qualified candidate.
Bieniemy should be on a short list if he ends up leaving Washington. He could very well be in the running for the head coaching job after Rivera is fired, but if the Commanders decide to go in a different direction, the Super Bowl-winning coordinator will likely be available after just one year in Washington. It would be completely foolish for the Steelers to not aggressively go after Bieniemy. A Rivera firing and Bieniemy departure would be a gift, and he in Pittsburgh would be the perfect fit.
Do you think that the Steelers would go after Bieniemy if he is shown the door in Washington? Let us know in the comments below!
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