The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly parting ways with a coach who played a significant role in improving their offense during the latter part of the season.
Mike Sullivan stepped in as the play-caller for Mike Tomlin’s offense after the Steelers decided to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada in the late stages of the season. While there were notable improvements under Sullivan’s guidance, it appears that he won’t be returning to the team in 2024.
According to Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the decision to let go of Sullivan may be driven by a desire to avoid any potential awkwardness with the incoming offensive coordinator.
“No coordinator would want the coach who previously called the plays looking over his shoulder.”
When the Steelers made the move to replace Canada in late November, their offensive performance was struggling, ranking 28th in total offense and scoring. However, in the very next game, the Steelers managed to surpass 400 yards of total offense, a feat they hadn’t achieved all season.
Furthermore, it was under the leadership of Mason Rudolph that the Steelers scored 27 points in a game for the first time during the season, securing a 34-11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. They continued their winning ways with a 30-23 triumph the following week, ultimately securing a spot in the playoffs with a 10-7 record.
Despite these improvements, Mike Tomlin confirmed after the Steelers’ first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Buffalo Bills that they would be looking outside the organization for a new offensive coordinator. Dulac pointed out that such a move is relatively rare for the Steelers, who have historically promoted from within.
There are reports that the Steelers are interested in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as a potential candidate for the offensive coordinator position, as per NFL insider Peter King.
While there may be anticipated changes to the offensive coaching staff, it seems that offensive line coach Pat Meyer is expected to retain his position, especially given the improvements in the ground game since ranking 29th in rushing in 2021.
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