The Pittsburgh Steelers made a huge move to begin the 2024 offseason when they decided to hire Arthur Smith as the team's next offensive coordinator. More changes to the staff are likely to occur in the weeks leading up to the league's new year in March. The organization is reportedly interested in bringing in someone with passing-game coordinator experience, but it's not just additions that could end up happening. Pittsburgh could also lose a coach, who has been with the team since the beginning of the 2021 season, if he gets offered and accepts a job elsewhere.
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Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan gives instruction to Mitch Trubisky (#10) during a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College In Latrobe, PA.
Mike Sullivan stepped in as the offensive play-caller when the highly-criticized Matt Canada was fired prior to the month of December beginning. The unit looked much better with Sullivan and Eddie Faulkner leading the way. The success that Mason Rudolph had, which helped lead the Steelers to the playoffs, was clearly noticed as Sullivan landed interviews with the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders to be their next offensive coordinator.
Recent reports out of Las Vegas had rumors spreading that former NFL Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury was going to be the new offensive coordinator for the Raiders. That appears to no longer be the case as news broke Saturday that he would be withdrawing himself from being considered for the job. That means Las Vegas is still on the prowl for a new play-caller.
The Raiders were also reportedly interested in Alex Van Pelt, who was hired by the New England Patriots. The list is becoming shorter for Las Vegas as the days go by and it is very possible that they call Sullivan to try and bring him to Sin City. This would present an interesting situation in Pittsburgh, an organization that would all of a sudden be looking for a quarterbacks coach.
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Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan addresses quarterback Kenny Pickett near the sidelines during a timeout in the middle of a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sullivan has extensive experience when it comes to calling plays at the professional level. He was also the quarterbacks coach with the New York Giants when they won the Super Bowl at the end of the 2011 season. That accomplishment gave him a job as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he landed back in New York from 2015 to 2017, with two of those years seeing him as the offensive coordinator.
Kenny Pickett's development hasn't really gone as planned, which might leave Steelers fans wanting Sullivan to leave town. The issue with that is most of the struggles from Pickett came at the hands of poor play-calling by Canada. Rudolph showed what can be done with the Steelers' play-makers if the right person is calling the plays.
Pickett and Sullivan also seem to have a very strong rapport. If Pittsburgh wants Pickett to finally take the next step in 2024, losing the guy that he has worked side-by-side with since he was drafted in 2022 could hamper the signal-caller's ability to grow. The Raiders aren't likely to wait long to make a move, especially considering Klint Kubiak seems to be off the board as well. Sullivan could very well end up being their guy.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan stands next to signal-caller Mitch Trubisky (#10) during a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Will Need To Act Quickly To Hire New Quarterbacks Coach If Sullivan Departs
Teams need an elite quarterback to win at the professional level. Pittsburgh, unfortunately, does not have that entering the 2024 offseason. Whoever is tasked with working with Pickett, or a potential newcomer, is going to become a critical piece in the team's future successes, or lack there of. A name like Frank Reich might make perfect sense if Sullivan ends up in Las Vegas. This is certainly something to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks.
Do you think Sullivan will end up getting the Raiders' offensive coordinator job? Let us know in the comments below!
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