After firing Matt Canada during the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan to run the offense. After the season ended, Faulkner was returned to his position as running backs coach, along with an extension of his contract. However, Sullivan was replaced by Tom Arth, who previously worked with the Los Angeles Chargers. Sullivan was a candidate for offensive coordinator for two other teams in the league, but that never materialized. Instead, the Steelers brought him back: just not as the offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach.
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Steelers Quarterbacks Coach Mike Sullivan worked well with the Steelers QBs over the last few seasons, attempting to maximize their upside, despite a limited playbook with Matt Canada.
Steelers Give Sullivan New Title
According to the Steelers' official website, Sullivan is back on the team as the senior offensive assistant. With that title and his experience, he will likely work as the second-in-command to Arthur Smith, the new offensive coordinator (similar to how Brian Flores was supposedly second-in-command to Teryl Austin back when Flores was the senior defensive assistant in 2022).
Besides the games where Mitch Trubisky played, Sullivan worked well with Faulkner while assuming play-calling duties. Mason Rudolph thrived during the three-game winning streak that put the Steelers back into the playoffs, and Kenny Pickett looked to have taken a step up, even if it was only for six quarters. The offense had their best games of the 2020s with Sullivan calling plays, and that prompted the Steelers to find a role for him.
Steelers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers' new 2023 offensive coordinator duo, Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan, worked together to fix the offense that Matt Canada implemented.
After the season ended, Mike Tomlin announced that he would be open to adding new roles to the coaching staff. Previously, the Steelers did not have a senior offensive assistant, so bringing back Sullivan in that role does count as him expanding the coaching staff with new roles that other teams have. Whether or not Tomlin continues to expand on his coaching staff is to be determined, but it is a good start for the Steelers.
The Steelers' official website also shows that the team has hired Matt Baker and Mateo Kambui as offensive assistants. Both coaches spent 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons on Smith's coaching staff. Both of these young coaches will likely follow Sullivan around and learn from him, as well as continuing to learn from Smith. Baker has coached at the collegiate level in many offensive roles, and Kambui helped with the offensive line in Atlanta.
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Former Falcons HC Arthur Smith and Steelers HC Mike Tomlin watching Stetson Bennett throw.
Under Phil Matusz, the new strength and conditioning coach, the Steelers also added Justus Galac and Roderick Moore. The previous strength and conditioning staff was only the 22nd best unit in the NFL, even though a B+ is not a bad rating overall. This new staff will look to improve on that mark.
What do you think of the Steelers retaining Mike Sullivan in his new role, as well as the Steelers hiring two new offensive assistants under him? How does the offensive coaching staff currently look? Let us know in the comments.
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