Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin's coaching tree has been a source of controversy in recent months. Pittsburgh has struggled with innovative defensive schemes since Dick LeBeau was asked to leave after the 2014 season, and the offense has been mostly a mess since Todd Haley’s contract ran out in 2018.
Nate Guidry / Post-Gazette
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley smiles on the practice field at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA as the team prepares for a game.
On Friday, Mark Kaboly joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller to discuss the ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator by the Steelers. When Andrew Fillipponi asked about the potential hiring of Zac Robinson, Kaboly dismissed the idea for a surprising reason.
“I think with Robinson, it's just going to be one, the most money, and number two, the best situation,” Kaboly said. “I don’t think Pittsburgh’s either one of those.”
As attractive as the Steelers' head coaching job is for stability and prestige, Pittsburgh has gained a notorious reputation for underpaying assistant coaches. The organization no longer attracts the best coaching talent. It is possible that is because of the pay issues. It is also possible that anyone who joins the current staff views it as a substandard opportunity with a plexiglass ceiling.
“I think Robinson can pretty much sign his own check, maybe not sign his own check, but he can sure pick where he wants to go,” Kaboly added. “It’s going to be for more money than he can get here. I’d find it stunning if he would end up being hired here.”
It is almost unthinkable that the Steelers have sunk to this level. Art Rooney II bears most of, but not all, the blame. Kevin Colbert had ample opportunity to convince Rooney that top-notch assistant coach talent was worth investing in by the organization. The Steelers have fallen further and further behind the NFL over the last decade. A case in point is the inexplicable hiring of Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator in 2021 because he was the quarterbacks coach in 2020. It is the worst, but hardly only example of flawed decision-making by Tomlin and Rooney.
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada was believed to be the main reason for the team's offensive failures.
Report - Steelers Finalizing New 2-Year Contract With Teryl Austin
After the Miami Dolphins dismissed Brian Flores, Tomlin reached out and ultimately hired him to coach the linebackers in Pittsburgh. Flores is one of the brightest defensive minds in the NFL and learned at the feet of one of the best defensive minds in history, Bill Belichick. Tomlin gave him very little responsibility, and it became clear that he had no chance to become the Steelers defensive coordinator. Flores left the team after the season to join the Minnesota Vikings staff as their DC. Teryl Austin was retained by Tomlin and, despite a promise to consider change, extended after another season that ended in a playoff loss.
"When you look at things like that with Raheem Morris, maybe that is one of the reasons he did get the job,” Kaboly concluded. “He was promising Arthur Blank, Zac Robinson is going to come along. It’s like that a lot of times when you put your staff together. When you go in there to be the head coach, one of the first things they ask you is what is your staff is going to look like. If they say, Zac Robinson, that may be very enticing to them.”
Raheem Morris is getting a third opportunity to lead an NFL franchise. He coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, posting a 17-31 record. He also served as the Atlanta Falcons' interim coach in 2020 for the final 11 games, winning four. Morris has returned to the Falcons just four seasons later with more cache than Tomlin? Morris and Robinson were on Sean McVay's staff with the Los Angeles Rams, but why would he choose the Falcons over the Steelers?
Associated Press
Steelers' Mike Tomlin has to deliver on promised changes on offense.
Money is an important motivating factor in any career decision. The Falcons may be willing to pay handsomely for Robinson's services, but the Steelers are not the little sisters of the poor. He might make a little less in Pittsburgh, but four Falcons coaching regimes have come and gone since Tomlin became the Steelers' head coach. Either job would be a significant pay raise for Robinson, but restoring the Steelers' offense to competency would open many more doors than a potential NFC South division championship.
If Robinson can't recognize that the Steelers organization offers him a better career opportunity, one of two things is true. Tomlin repels top coaching talent by meddling in schemes and personnel decisions, or Mr. Rooney and the Steelers organization need to accept that the current rate for coaching talent has increased.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you believe Kaboly is wrong, or do you suspect Tomlin and the Steelers do not know how to attract top coordinators? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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