Former Steelers Player Exposed What Really Happened In The Matt Canada Tenure

Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans don't miss the state of the offense during the Matt Canada era as offensive coordinator. Unfortunately for both Canada and the Steelers, he never lived up to the standards expected of someone in that role. Whether that was entirely on his shoulders, the result of Mike Tomlin holding him back, or some combination of both, nobody truly knows.

Either way, it was a bad hire that lasted far longer than it should have. Things became so frustrating that the Steelers made franchise history by firing Canada during the 2023 season. It marked the first time since 1941 that Pittsburgh had made a midseason coaching change, showing just how poorly things had gone offensively for the organization to make such a drastic move.

Steelers fans are obviously hoping to put that era even further behind them with Brian Angelichio now in town. Still, many continue to wonder what really happened during Canada's tenure and why the offense never found consistent success. There may be no better person to hear that story from than someone who played under him.

Former Steelers tight end Eric Ebron recently joined Cam Heyward on the Not Just Football podcast and offered a revealing look into what things were really like behind the scenes during Canada's time in Pittsburgh.

"Sometimes the OC was on some bullsh**," Ebron said while speaking about Canada on Not Just Football. "You know who our OC was? Matt Canada. This was our second year with him. He used to call the most... I'm like, 'Dude, this is seven shots. Why the fu** are we trying to run the ball? We're trying to score!'"

It's funny to hear Ebron's frustrations because many Steelers fans reading this article will probably relate to him completely. They watched Canada call questionable and conservative plays in key moments, time and time again, before he was fired. Many times, Steeler Nation was left asking the exact same questions Ebron was.

Canada's tenure wasn't successful largely because of the conservative approach he operated under. Some of that may have been necessary given that he was working with a young quarterback in Kenny Pickett. However, others simply believe Canada wasn't equipped with the level of creativity and offensive expertise needed to succeed as an NFL offensive coordinator. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle.

Either way, neither Pickett nor Canada worked out in Pittsburgh. Pickett is still trying to prove himself as a reliable backup quarterback in this league, while Canada has yet to earn another NFL offensive coordinator opportunity. That suggests both deserve some share of the blame. At the same time, it's important to remember that Pickett was a young quarterback still trying to develop, while Canada was the veteran coach tasked with helping that development happen.

Steelers Have A Much More Optimistic Offensive Outlook In 2026

Now, the Steelers are moving into a completely different era offensively. With Mike McCarthy in town, there is optimism that his offensive mindset and long track record of success can help maximize the talent currently on Pittsburgh's roster. 

Aaron Rodgers is back for what is expected to be one final ride in 2026, and that puts even more pressure on the offense to perform at a much higher level. Under Angelichio and McCarthy, the expectation is that Pittsburgh's offense will finally look far different than it did during the frustrating Canada years.

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