Dulac: No Steelers Assistant Coach Under Mike Tomlin Should Feel Safe Entering 2024 Offseason

It has been a crazy month of December for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The franchise entered the final full month of the 2023 regular season with a clear and favorable path to the postseason. That quickly turned around after three straight losses, and fans calling for Head Coach Mike Tomlin's firing have never been louder. The fact of the matter is, the team has issues all over the place. There is a ton of immaturity that runs rampant in the locker room and while Tomlin is the leader and should be held accountable, other members of the coaching staff are to blame as well.

Tomlin has one season remaining on his contract and no one really knows where the Steelers and Art Rooney II will go when the offseason hits. A lot of it could have to do with how the final three games of the regular season go. Regardless, there is going to be massive change in the offseason. That doesn't necessarily mean Tomlin will go, but he could be forced to do things differently in 2024.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted his weekly fan chat on Wednesday. Dozens of members of Steeler Nation took to their keyboards to complain about the current state of the organization. Someone brought up Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin and Dulac firmly believes that him, and several others on the staff are on flaming hot seats at season's end.

"I believe his contract is up after this season and I don't think any of Tomlin's assistants should be considered safe," Dulac wrote.

There are a number of assistants that could be looking for a new job come January. Austin is one, but Mike Sullivan clearly hasn't done a good enough job developing Kenny Pickett. Additionally, an interim offensive coordinator like Eddie Faulkner may be pushed out if he's not retained, despite his great work with Jaylen Warren. It goes deeper than just those three, however.

Another fan asked about wide receivers coach, Frisman Jackson. One contributor asked about Jackson due to the incredibly immature positional room that he leads. George Pickens and Diontae Johnson have been obvious cancers to the locker room in 2023 and Dulac is assuring the fan base that no one is getting a pass and several jobs will be lost in the offseason.

"He doesn't. Nor do several other assistants. Rest assured, many changes will be made -- told to made -- after the season."

If and when Tomlin hangs around for 2024, and possibly beyond, Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan must be heavily involved in the coaching hiring process. It's hard to truly think of good coaching hires for the Steelers in recent memory. Brian Flores and Mike Munchak come to mind, but both are no longer with the organization.

Danny Smith has been inconsistent with special teams, but sadly, his unit (aside from Pressley Harvin III) has been the most reliable one in 2023. Grady Brown, due to his developing of Joey Porter Jr., and Aaron Curry, because of his work with the insider linebackers, should truly be the only ones off the hook. While Karl Dunbar and his defensive line have been horrible against the run, it's hard to see the organization moving on from the 18-year veteran coach unless he wants to move on.

Steelers Need To Revamp, And Quickly

Pittsburgh fans are spoiled and will not hear any talk of a rebuild. Championships are the standard and it has slowly turned into winning seasons being good enough for the organization. There is a lot to be done, but the current coaching staff has severely underperformed. If Tomlin stays in the driver's seat for 2024, the draft and free agency won't be the only pivotal components. A complete revamp of the coaching staff will be crucial.

Do you expect the Steelers to part ways with a number of assistants in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!

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