The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a search for a new offensive coordinator to elevate the group in a way that Matt Canada couldn't in his two plus seasons in the role. The team has been busy interviewing potential candidates for their opening, but could also lose quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, who has gotten a few interviews with other clubs. Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo thinks the team will take its time deciding on a new offensive coordinator and is using the interview process to gather information about filling other roles on the staff.
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Former Atlanta Falcons coach speaks at a press conference on Dec 17 after his team lost to the Carolina Panthers.
The team reportedly interviewed former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith on Sunday. Thomas Brown, who served as the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator and play-caller for some of the 2023 season, is another candidate the Steelers have interviewed. Former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury has worked with some very high-profile quarterbacks in college and the NFL and is another candidate that the Steelers could end up talking to.
Finally, Jerrod Johnson served as the quarterbacks coach for the Houston Texans and helped CJ Stroud thrive in his rookie campaign. The former Steelers quarterback, who never played an NFL game, is also in the mix for the job.
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USC Trojans assistant coach Kliff Kingsbury talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the pregame warmup before playing the Arizona State Sun Devils.
As it stands right now, Fittipaldo said on a Monday edition of the North Shore Drive Podcast that Smith and Brown look to him like the front runners for the job. When Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke at his year-end press conference, he detailed almost precisely the criteria for the next leader of the offense and noted that he is excited to learn throughout the process. A big part of Tomlin's expectations was that the candidate has play-calling experience at the NFL level, and both Smith and Brown have that.
The one area that might hurt Smith and Brown is their lack of experience working with quarterbacks specifically. A big part of the hire will be trying to get the most out of Kenny Pickett in a pivotal year of his career. Kingsbury and, to a lesser extent, Johnson have reputations as quarterback whisperers.
"I think the quarterbacks coach aspect of this is important," Fittipaldo said. "I'm not saying the OC has to have that kind of a background but you definitely want a quarterback's coach in here who knows how to get the most out of Kenny Pickett."
Nailing the offensive coordinator hire is a must, but finding the right support system for Pickett in year three will be key.
Steelers Potentially Using OC Search To Build Offensive Staff
Hypothetically, Fittipaldo wondered if the team decided to hire one of the candidates they've talked to so far or could still reach out to in the process that doesn't have a quarterback whisperer background if they could bring in one of the other potential guys that have that history to serve in a different role.
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Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud works in practice under the close eye of Quarterbacks Coach Jerrod Johnson.
The one candidate that Fittipaldo speculated this could be a possibility with is Johnson.
"Would Johnson come here for an upgrade in position?, " Fittipaldo wondered. "If he's a passing game coordinator to Arthur Smith, could they lure him that way? Could they get someone else to do that ?"
Fittipaldo thinks the Steelers are still fairly early in their process of finding their new offensive coordinator, and more names will surely emerge. Klint Kubiak is a hot name on the San Francisco 49ers' staff that teams are still looking at. If Kingsbury is adamant about getting another shot at coaching in the NFL, would he join the Steelers staff and try to put building up Pickett on his resume even if he isn't the coordinator?
Whatever direction the organization decides to go, if they're as committed to Pickett as they seem to be, they need to find the best way to support their young quarterback. It could be with a coordinator that is quarterback-friendly or with added support staff. However they decide to do it, they can't afford to mess it up.
What do you think of the idea of hiring a non-quarterback guru and supporting them with one? Do you like Fittipaldo's suggestion of Smith and Johnson as hires? Comment below!
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