Steelers fire OC Matt Canada after offensive struggles

PITTSBURGH – Citing offensive inconsistencies and a lack of improvement, the Pittsburgh Steelers have fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada, coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday.

“I didn’t make this decision lightly, to be really transparent with you,” Tomlin said. “It’s my role to absorb and protect those I work with, and that’s not how I feel. Obviously, I’m not interested in blaming or deflecting attention in any way .

“I had a lot of respect for Matt personally and professionally. It wasn’t easy, but I thought it was necessary. This is a results-oriented company, and to put it briefly, improvements n “were not quick enough or consistent enough for us to proceed.”

Tomlin also emphasized that he did not make the decision with general manager Omar Khan or team president and owner Art Rooney II.

“Leadership is lonely,” Tomlin said. “I’m not running away. I’m running towards it. It was mine and mine alone.”

Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly news conference that running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will serve as offensive coordinator, but quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will assume the “most” of the playing responsibilities.

The Steelers are the only team in the league where the offensive point guard is neither the offensive coordinator nor the head coach.

“The strength of the pack is the pack, and when you’re faced with challenges, I think it’s natural and appropriate to distribute responsibilities,” Tomlin said.

Canada, 51, has been the Steelers’ offensive coordinator since 2021.

His firing marks the first time the Steelers have made a midseason head coaching or coordinator change since 1941, according to research from ESPN Stats & Information. That season, the Steelers had three head coaches: Bert Bell (who went 0-2 and was half-owner of the team), Aldo Donelli (who went 0-5) and Walt Kiesling (who went 1-2-1). ).

The Steelers offense struggled throughout Canada’s tenure as offensive coordinator, never eclipsing 400 yards of offense during his 45-game career, including the playoffs. The Steelers were the only team during that streak to fail to reach 400 yards, while 31 other teams reached that mark at least four times each. The Steelers have also been outplayed in 31 of their 45 games with Canada as offensive coordinator, including their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021.

The latest example came Sunday in a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, when the Steelers were dominated for the 10th time this season.

“Our most recent performance is part of it,” Tomlin said, “but I just think you know when you’re there to be straight and short on the answer.”

After Sunday’s loss, running back Najee Harris expressed his frustration with the offense. He was asked if the team’s winning record was encouraging despite the offensive struggles.

“You can do two things,” Harris said. You could look at the record and say, ‘OK, we’re still good right now.’ Or we might look at the record and say, “If we keep playing this type of football, how long will it last? I look at it like, “How long will it last?” You all might consider that’s a good record, but I mean, it’s the NFL. Winning like we did, that’s not going to get us anywhere.”

Tomlin declined to share the exact moment he made the decision, and he said he didn’t discuss it in the locker room until the Steelers announced the decision on social media Tuesday morning.

“The turning point was when I made the decision,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh is 6-4 but has a negative point differential (-29) and has been outscored in every game this season. The Steelers rank 28th in points per game (16.6), 28th in offensive yards per game (280.1) and 31st in passing yards per game (170) this season.

“You have to score touchdowns in this business,” Tomlin said. “You have to win games in this business, and the totality of that gets us to where we are today.”

When asked what he wanted to see differently in his offense going forward, Tomlin reiterated the need to get into the end zone, something the Steelers have done just 16 times this season. “I just want to see points,” Tomlin said. “I want to set up winning in a smoother way, and that’s what points do.”

Second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett, who Tomlin confirmed is the starter, is ranked 25th in the NFL in passing yards (1,722) and 28th in QBR (35.7). Pickett also only has six passing touchdowns this season. Other quarterbacks with six passing touchdowns include Zach Wilson and Desmond Ridder. Tommy DeVito and Will Levis also had six passing touchdowns in just four games.

Tomlin, however, dismissed the idea that the final seven games of the season under a new offensive coordinator and playmaker would be critical to Pickett’s long-term development.

“I’m focused on this week in terms of Kenny’s development,” Tomlin said. We’re not urinating on fire, man. We’re getting ready to play a football game and win this week. This is the only program here. It’s not the big picture and 2024 and all that . This organization is not wired like that.”