Here are the top three offensive coordinator candidates for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
It’s no secret who the next offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers could be after the firing of Matt Canada, who was widely viewed as one of the team’s best offensive players.
In the interim, offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan, running backs coach, and quarterback coach have been working together to run this not-so-great offense.
Canada’s offense put up 16.6 PPG through the first 12 games of the season. In the three games without him, Pittsburgh’s offense has averaged 14.7 PPG.
This is not an endorsement of Canada, and it certainly is not one for Sullivan and Faulkner. Let’s hope the Steelers look elsewhere for their next offensive coordinator.
Here are three candidates Pittsburgh should consider:
Jerrod Johnson
This is Johnson’s first year as Houston Texas’ quarterbacks coach after one season as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Vikings
The transformation of the Texans offense since last year is mind-boggling. Currently, the offense ranks ninth in the NFL in yards per game ( 354.8) and 14th in points per game (22.1). In 2022, the offense ranked 31st in the NFL in yardage (283.5 yards per game) and 17.0 points per game. Much of the credit goes to offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, but a large portion of the pie chart should go to Johnson. He is a rising star in the league and would bring a youthful energy to a staff that is, frankly, stale. Did you know the Steelers signed Johnson as a player back in January 13, 2012 and later cut him in August of the following year? Yes, he already wears black and gold!
Klint Kubiak
The 49ers’ passing game coordinator
The current coaching tree under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan includes Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Houston Texans defensive end Demeco Ryans. It’s safe to say they’re in good hands.
Kubiak is also 36 years old. He’s also the son of Gary Kubiak, a former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl winning head coach.
Before coming to the Bay Area, he worked with several teams, including the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. In 2021, he was the Vikings’ offensive coordinator, but was fired when the team fired Mike Zimmer and cleared out his staff. He was Denver’s head coach in 2022 before the team also fired him.
I wouldn’t blame him for those failures. The 49ers are second in the NFL with 29.2 points per game, and quarterback Brock Purdy has proven to be one of the league’s best young quarterbacks. He deserves some credit for that.
The Steelers love their NFL bloodlines.
David Girardi
This is a sleeper, and I’m not just saying that because I went to high school with him (shout out Valley High School, New Kensington PA). Girardi was a three-year starter at Geneva College from 2007-2010, and he’s been with the Chiefs for the past six seasons. He’s worked directly with Patrick Mahomes, and he’s a Pittsburgh native. I’ve heard from a good source that Girardi wouldn’t leave Kansas City on a lateral move. So if the Steelers were to express interest in Girardi, it would probably have to be as an offensive coordinator. Right now, Girardi is the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach, but he spent the first five seasons as a pass-game analyst (2020-22), an assistant QB coach (18-20), and an offensive quality control (18-20) coach. Girardi won a Super Bowl!
Cam Heyward’s response to BenRoethlisberger’s comments about the lack of leadership in the Steelers’ locker room, NFL Week 15 games of the week picks from behind the Steel Curtain, Steelers Sound-Off on Mike Tomlin’s firing, questions about why T. J. Watt’s concussion isn’t a bigger story, and more. Submit your questions to this Friday’s mailbag. Terrible Towel tales: Mock draft land Steelers’ top center, Thursday night football picks, odds and more from Week 15.
