HEADLINES

Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Steelers Promote Randy Fichtner To OC

January 18th, 2018 at 2:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have promoted quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner to offensive coordinator. The news was first reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Randy Fichtner (vertical)

[RELATED: Ben Roethlisberger To Play 3 More Years?]

This was the anticipated outcome after the team allowed Todd Haley‘s contract to expire. Fichtner has a good working relationship with Ben Roethlisberger and the same could not be said for Big Ben and Haley. Given the rumblings of serious discord between the QB and Haley, it wouldn’t be surprising if Roethlisberger played a hand in the coaching switch.

Fichtner, 54, spent his career in the college ranks from 1986-2006. In 2007, he joined the Steelers as their wide receivers coach. In 2010, he was re-assigned as the QBs coach and held down that job for eight seasons. With a total of eleven years working alongside Mike Tomlin, Fichtner is well-versed in the Steelers’ way of doing things.

Former Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson was also said to be in the mix for the job.

AFC Notes: Steelers, Haley, Dolphins

January 17th, 2018 at 1:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the AFC:

  • Quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner is considered the favorite to take over for Todd Haley as the Steelers‘ new offensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Rapoport notes that Fichtner is close with offensive line coach Mike Munchak as well as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, which could give him the leg up. However, no decision has been made yet.
  • Kirby Wilson, the Steelers‘ running backs coach under Mike Tomlin during his first seven seasons with Pittsburgh, is another candidate to replace Haley as OC, Ed Bouchette of the Post Gazette (on Twitter) hears. Interestingly, Munchak’s name has not come up as a OC candidate yet, even though he declined a second interview with the Cardinals on Wednesday.
  • Former Denver assistant head coach/running backs Eric Studesville is headed to the Dolphins as running backs coach/run game coordinator (Twitter link via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com). Studesville has ties to Dolphins head coach Adam Gase since both men were on the Broncos’ staff together both under Josh McDaniels and John Fox.

Steelers To Hire New Offensive Coordinator

January 17th, 2018 at 11:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are allowing offensive coordinator Todd Haley to walk now that his contract has expired, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The team will now look to hire a new OC. Todd Haley (vertical)

[RELATED: Ben Roethlisberger To Play 3 More Years?]

The Steelers may have a couple of in-house candidates to replace Haley. One is quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who was previously assigned to act as a “buffer” between Ben Roethlisberger and Haley on the sidelines. The other is offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who appears to have withdrawn his name from consideration for the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy.

On the whole, Haley’s offense has been a success in Pittsburgh, but his bickering with Big Ben and off-the-field incidents have tested the patience of his superiors. Haley’s latest unfortunate headline came when he suffered a shattered pelvis during a barroom brawl on New Year’s Eve.

Mike Munchak Declines Second Interview With Cardinals

January 17th, 2018 at 9:20am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak has turned down the chance for a second head coaching interview with the Cardinals, a source tells Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link). With Munchak out of consideration for the job, Patriots linebacker coach Brian Flores is now a leading candidate for the job. Mike Munchak (vertical)

It’s not immediately clear why Munchak has removed himself from consideration for the Cardinals job. As PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, Munchak is also a candidate for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy, but that job likely belongs to Pat Shurmur. With rumors swirling about Todd Haley‘s departure, one has to wonder if Munchak is in the mix to become the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator.

Munchak went just 22-26 in three seasons as the Titans’ head coach, but was said to have made a great impression on Cardinals brass. The Cardinals will now dig deeper into Flores – despite his lack of coordinator experience – as well as Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.

Steelers WR Coach Richard Mann Retires

January 16th, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns are “in discussions” with former Titans head coach Mike Mularkey regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. Mularkey, who was fired by Tennessee on Monday, was loosely connected to Cleveland yesterday, with reports indicating Hue Jackson & Co. would be interested in Mularkey if he were to come available. As of yet, the Browns have not set up a formal interview with Mularkey, but such a meeting could soon occur. Mularkey would become the third definitive candidate for Cleveland’s OC job, joining Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan and former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo. A three-time head coach, Mularkey has coordinated offenses for the Steelers, Dolphins, and Falcons.

  • Steelers wide receivers coach Richard Mann is planning to retire, as Alex Marvez of the Sporting News writes. The 70-year-old Mann has enjoyed a long career in coaching, and has especially thrived since joining Pittsburgh’s staff in 2013. His arrival coincided with Antonio Brown‘s ascension to the league’s best wideout, while Mann has also helped guide young pass-catchers such as Martavis Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Mann, a long-time collegiate coach, entered the NFL ranks in 1985.

Ben Roethlisberger To Play 3 More Years?

January 16th, 2018 at 8:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has privately told teammates that he wants to play for at least three more seasons, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Ben Roethlisberger (vertical)

The 35-year-old Roethlisberger indicated following Sunday’s Divisional Round loss that he plans to return for the 2018 season, an important disclosure given that he reportedly mulled retirement prior to the 2017 campaign. Coming off a season which was largely in line with his career norms (64.2% completion rate, 28 touchdowns, 92.4 quarterback rating), Roethlisberger sounds as though he’s eager to continue his career through at least next year, and potentially beyond. He’s under contract through 2019, with cap charges of $23.2MM in each season.

Roethlisberger’s relationship with offensive coordinator Todd Haley has reportedly been the source of some strain, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Sunday that the rapport between the two Steelers “in in as bad of a place as it’s been in years.” Haley’s contract is now expired, per Bouchette, and it’s unclear if he’ll return to Pittsburgh in 2018 after failing to “build support among key players” on the club’s offense. If Haley leaves the Steelers, quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner would represent a “strong candidate” to become the team’s next offensive coordinator.

Appearing on his local radio show on CBS Pittsburgh this morning, Roethlisberger seemed to refute any concerns regarding Haley. “There’s always issues in a competitive field,” said Roethlisberger, noting that the reported rift is “perceived as a bigger deal” than reality might warrant (Twitter links via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com). “You might butt heads at times, it doesn’t mean you have any personal problems.”

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/18

January 16th, 2018 at 7:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:

Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers, Mike Hilton Agree To Extension

January 16th, 2018 at 4:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers announced that cornerback Mike Hilton has agreed to a one-year extension. Hilton was scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent in March, meaning that he was likely to be back on a one-year deal anyway. The move is something of a formality, though it does speak to his increased importance to the team. Mike Hilton (vertical)

[RELATED: Todd Haley’s Contract With Steelers Expires]

Hilton served as Pittsburgh’s primary nickel cornerback in 2018 and played in more than 58% of the team’s snaps. He was productive in that role, amassing 64 tackles, four sacks (three of which came in the Steelers’ late season win over the Texans), two picks, and one forced fumble. Hilton ranked as the 27th best corner in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, and placed higher than teammates Artie Burns (44th) and Joe Haden (52nd).

Fellow would-be ERFAs Xavier Grimble and Kameron Canaday also inked one-year extensions with the Steelers this week.

Todd Haley’s Contract With Steelers Expires

January 16th, 2018 at 12:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Todd Haley‘s contract with the Steelers has expired, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As Bouchette explains, the team does not typically allow a coach’s contract to lapse if they intend to keep him, so this could indeed be the end of his time as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. 

Haley is reportedly at odds with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his off-the-field behavior probably doesn’t help matters. This season, Roethlisberger requested that QBs coach Randy Fichtner coach from the sidelines instead of the press box so that he can provide a buffer between him and Haley. Although the Steelers have enjoyed great success with Haley as the OC, this could be the offseason that they go in a different direction.

Fichtner has been with the team since 2007 and has served as the QBs coach for the last eight seasons, so he could be a candidate for the position if Haley is pushed out the door. His relationship with Big Ben could also help his case.

The Steelers have not allowed a coordinator’s contract to lapse without an extension since after the 2011 season. In that instance, Bruce Arians was nudged out the door in what was referred to as a “retirement.”

 

Cardinals To Interview Munchak, DeFilippo Again

January 16th, 2018 at 12:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals are bringing Mike Munchak back in for a second interview, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). The team is also expected to speak with Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo for a second time once Philly’s season is over, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Mike Munchak (vertical)

Munchak, the Steelers offensive line coach, first interviewed with Arizona on January 7. He went just 22-26 in three seasons as the Titans’ head coach, but he impressed in his initial meeting with the Cardinals and also made a strong impression on the Giants before they landed on Pat Shurmur as their likely hire.

DeFilippo helped mold Carson Wentz into one of the league’s top young quarterbacks and, under his guidance, the team has stayed afloat with Nick Foles under center. With uncertainty at QB, the Cardinals are intrigued by DeFilippo’s ability to groom an up-and-coming star – and his ability to work with secondary options. Although defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz holds a higher title and is also interviewing for HC jobs, it appears that DeFilippo is a stronger candidate around the league.

As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, nine candidates have interviewed for the Cardinals job. With Shurmur and Patricia likely spoken for, there are seven coaches still in play, but Munchak and DeFilippo appear to be the frontrunners.

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