It finally happened. After three years of miserable play on offense, Matt Canada has been relieved of his duties as the Steelers offensive coordinator. In the interim, Eddie Faulkner has been named the team’s offensive coordinator. While Mike Sullivan will take over as the primary play caller. Assuming neither one of these men are named the full time OC after the season, we have put together 10 names the Steelers should strongly consider ad their next offensive coordinator.
We are going to skip the click-bait names that have been circulating around social media the last few days. Names like Ben Roethlisberger, or Byron Leftwich don’t seem realistic to us. Instead we have compiled a list of young, dynamic offensive minds from around the league. Without further ado, here’s our list in no particular order:
1. Shane Day – Senior offensive assistant, Houston Texans
Shane Day has been around the block, having been a coach in the league since 2014. He was the quarterbacks coach for the 49ers from 2019-20 before moving to the Chargers as the passing game coordinator. He is now a part of the remarkable Houston Texans offense this season. Day was a member of the Shanahan staff along with current Texans OC Bobby Slowick. Together they have produced a potent offense with rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. We have maintained for some time now that the Steelers should hire someone from the Shanahan tree. Shane day is just the type of coach we are looking for.
We had Day on our list last off-season as possible replacement for Matt Canada. Top 7 candidates to replace Matt Canada in 2023
2. Thomas Brown – Offensive Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
Another holdover from our previous list, Thomas Brown was a hot name last off-season. He ended up snagging the Panthers OC job coming off being a member of the Sean McVay staff in Los Angeles. Brown is a very well respected football coach. Word has it we wowed the Panthers in the interview process, being compared by some to the “Mike Tomlin-like”. https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/09/29/future-nfl-head-coach-candidates-daily-cover
There’s a lot going on with the Carolina coaching staff on offense. They have Parks Frazier, Cade McCown, and head coach Frank Reich all as capable play callers. The case for hiring Brown hinges on the distinct possibility of Reich being let go after this very disappointing season in Carolina. If that happens, the Pittsburgh should have Brown on their short list of candidates.
3. Jerrod Johnson – Quarterback coach, Houston Texans
Bobby Slowick and the Texans offense has been so impressive in 2023, it’s natural to look to that staff for the next hot offensive coordinator prospect. Given how seamless CJ Stroud’s move form college to the NFL, Jerrod Johnson seems like a great candidate. He spent time with the 49ers under the Bill Walsh coaching fellowship, before moving on to the Vikings and now the Texans. He was even a member of the Steelers practice squad in 2012, so he is at least somewhat familiar to Mike Tomlin.
4. Jake Peetz – Pass game coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
Jake Peetz has experience coaching both sides of the ball. Peetz started his coaching career as a defensive assistant at UCLA. Since then he has coached just about every position on offense at various stops. He was the offensive coordinator at LSU in 2021 as well. This is a very experienced offensive coach who is currently working with Sean McVay in Los Angeles. That’s quite the resume, and should be good enough to get the Steelers attention.
5. Deuce Staley – Assistant head coach, Carolina Panthers
Lots of things linking Duece Staley and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides his obvious connections with the Steelers as a former player, Staley was also a longtime member of the Eagles coaching staff during Andy Weidl’s tenure there. If Mike Tomlin prefers a more experienced coach as his next OC, Deuce Staley is certainly a name to keep an eye on.
6. Marcus Brady – Senior offensive assistant, Philadelphia Eagles
Another name that Andy Weidl should be extremely familiar with is Marcus Brady. Brady was the Colts OC before they decided to burn it all down mid-season, and name Jeff Saturday their interim coach. He was hired by the Eagles last season as a consultant on offense, a season that ended up just short of a Super Bowl championship. Brady will most likely end up a coordinator somewhere next season.
7. Jay Gruden – Offensive consultant, Los Angeles Rams
There’s no denying Jay Gruden is a very good offensive mind. He had a tumultuous run as the head coach in Washington. Any coach would have struggled with Dan Snyder as their owner however. There is a thin connection here as He is the brother of Jon Gruden who Tomlin coached under before coming to Pittsburgh. It’s a long shot, but if Sean McVay likes him enough to hire him that says something.
8. Joe Blaymeir – Pass game coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs
Everyone is looking for a little of that Chiefs magic on offense, the Steelers should be no different. He was promoted to his current role after being the team’s wide receiver coach from 2021-2022. Working under Andy Reid in any capacity makes a coach intriguing. Blaymeir should be a hot name this offseason.
9. Brian Angelichio – Tight ends coach/passing game coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
Few head coaches impress us more on the offensive side of the ball than Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings. Angelichio has been a tight ends coach in the league for several seasons before being hired as the pass game coordinator as well in Minnesota. The work he has done with TJ Hockenson since he got there speaks volumes. Angelichio spent time at Pitt from 2006-2011, so he should be at least somewhat familiar to the Steelers.
10. Tanner Engstrand – Pass game coordinator, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions offense is among the best in the league in 2023, making anyone on that staff worth investigating. Engstrand has worked closely with Ben Johnson since they both got there two years ago. Engstram was the offensive coordinator for the DC defenders in 2020 as well. This is a young coach on the rise, and one that should be on the list for the Steelers offensive coordinator position in 2024.