At this point, it doesn’t seem like the Pittsburgh Steelers are making any significant cuts to their coaching staff. There will probably be some movement, but OC Arthur Smith and DC Terrill Austin are open to returning in 2025, while HC Mike Tomlin is clearly staying.
So perhaps the next best thing a team can do is add. We note that Pittsburgh will have the smallest coaching staff size in 2024, and while there is no direct correlation between increased staff size and wins, adding a few names to the Steelers could help. would have advantages. There are always pros and cons to adding or removing coaching staff. You need to find a quality coach, not just meet quotas, but also match your messaging and philosophy. But teams that do it can really benefit.
Choosing a name can be tough in a busy and confusing hiring cycle. Pittsburgh may need to iron out some issues before coming on board. For the big picture, here are four areas teams should consider adding:
run defense specialist
This is a bit special, and I don’t know how many teams have players with this title. But I would like to see Pittsburgh add a former linebacker or defensive coach who is a catch-all assistant but focuses on run defense, similar to how the Steelers designate specific assistants for specific parts of the game. I would like to receive it. Mike Sullivan is the YAC coach and Grady Brown is in charge of the turnover culture.
Including Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have had eight defensive coaches. Half of them, four, have a secondary background. Tomlin is a former defensive backs coach. So is DC’s Terrill Austin. Obviously, that’s Grady Brown’s strength, and so is defensive assistant Anthony Midgett. It’s about being concentrated in one place. Pittsburgh is benefiting from that. They were able to problem solve in some difficult situations, such as surviving multiple injuries in a safe place in 2023.
But they need help, as their run defense faltered by the end of the year, allowing 299 rushing yards, the most in Pittsburgh history in the postseason, in a wild-card loss to Baltimore. A lot of that is down to personnel, with the D-line needing investment and a revamped group, but adding a coach to help the front office is worthwhile.
Pittsburgh has well-respected coaches in DL coach Carl Dunbar and up-and-coming ILB coach Aaron Curry, and they actually brought in coaches. Jason Brooks as a quality control coach;He has a D-line/linebacker background. But a name with the same big-time pedigree as Mike Vrabel, who is looking for a job after passing up other more prominent opportunities, would be a big win. Again, it’s hard to say who it is. The smoke has to clear and a league-wide staff has to be assembled.
I want you to take a wild guess, but is it really, really, Marvin Lewis? He probably won’t be part of the Raiders’ new coaching staff. He previously coached linebackers in Pittsburgh and is from the area.
Experienced OLB coach
For years, Pittsburgh had DL coach Carl Dunbar double-duty as D-line and EDGE rushers coach. And he still actively participates in the group. However, they promoted Denzel Martin from assistant to the official title of outside linebackers coach in 2024. Martin is an energetic coach and probably a good coach, but he is young and I would prefer a veteran to lead the group. Despite Pittsburgh having plenty of talent and depth, their pass rush production has declined.
Adding a veteran here would ease the burden on Dunbar (or the next D-line coach if there is a change here), and move Martin back into an assistant role, where he is probably a bit more suited at this stage of his career. Perhaps the team could entertain one of its pass rush gurus, like the Baltimore Ravens added Chuck Smith this offseason. Could Pittsburgh take a look at Dez Walker, who has worked with Cam Heyward, Nick Herbig and many draft prospects year after year? No one knows if Walker wants the job. Some of them prefer to be independent rather than working in a team, but that is an avenue for the team to explore.
run game coordinator
Over the past few years, and perhaps even now, the Steelers have appointed the o-line coach as run game coordinator, ostensibly leaving the offensive coordinator in charge of the quarterback and passing game. Perhaps that will have to change. Perhaps the team should have a designated run game coordinator in hopes of boosting that unit. Pass game specialists are also welcome. There’s another offensive mind in that room that will probably look at the big picture rather than week-to-week minutiae or individual player technique.
special teams coach assistant
I know special teams coordinator Danny Smith is getting help. He’s not a one-man band, but he’s pretty close to it. Pittsburgh remains the only NFL team with only one coach with “special teams” in the title. Maybe it’s time for a change.
The Steelers’ special teams did a lot of great things this season, including a historic season from K Chris Boswell. However, this unit faded down the stretch due to a leaky coverage unit while the kick return game was the worst in the NFL all season. As the NFL continues to fine-tune its new kickoff rules, coaches may be able to focus on that.
I’m Team Danny Smith Forever and he’s not getting any younger. He is a football enthusiast and admitted he has no hobbies, but he can’t coach forever. It would be wise to find a potential successor, at least someone within the company to evaluate after Mr. Smith stops pressing charges, with the immediate benefit of additional support.
