Matt Canada will not be given an opportunity to close out a third season as Steelers offensive coordinator. While Canada had long been expected to be fired after this season, Mike Tomlin instead informed the third-year OC of an in-season dismissal Tuesday morning.
The Steelers will pivot to a co-OC setup of sorts to replace Canada, 51. Running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will take over in the coordinator role, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will move into the play-calling role. Tomlin is not believed to have made the final call here, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reporting owner Art Rooney II insisted this move be made. That being the case would add intrigue to a Steelers offensive situation that has been one of the NFL’s worst for years, though Tomlin (via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly) has since said he made the call.
Sullivan has been an OC with the Giants and Buccaneers previously; he has been with the Steelers since 2021, Canada’s first OC season. Faulkner has been in place as Pittsburgh’s RBs coach since 2019. Faulkner, 46, will play a lead role in game planning, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. But Sullivan, 56, will be the assistant given headset responsibilities.
The Steelers are 6-4, but their offense has struggled throughout Canada’s third season. Pittsburgh holds a minus-29 point differential, being in the historically strange position of holding an over-.500 record after having been outgained in each of its 10 games this season. Canada’s struggles predate this year as well. The Steelers have not produced a 400-yard offensive game since the 2020 season, Randy Fichtner‘s last as OC.
The team’s 249-yard outing in Cleveland represented its 58th straight game coming in below 400 yards. The Steelers’ most recent such outing came in Week 2 of the 2020 season. Kenny Pickett, who completed 15 passes for just 106 yards against the Browns’ menacing pass defense in Week 11, has not taken a step forward in his second season. The 2022 first-rounder’s status is secure for the time being, but the Pitt product may soon be on the clock as well.
Prior to the Browns matchup, Canada had been expected to be given a chance to foster Pickett improvement to close out the season. Tomlin kept Canada on as OC — to the chagrin of many — after Pickett put together a promising stretch to close out a statistically unimpressive rookie season. Instead, this will be the first Steelers OC in-season coordinator removal since Bill Cowher relieved Ray Sherman of play-calling duties during the 1998 slate. That was not technically a firing, since Sherman finished out the season in a lesser role. This will mark rare territory for the old-school franchise. But the Steelers have been a defense-dependent outfit for years, transitioning from the “Killer B’s” era to a period of low-octane offense that has encompassed most of the 2020s.
Tomlin initially hired Canada as quarterbacks coach in 2020, but the longtime HC did not renew Fichtner’s contract for the 2021 season, promoting the ex-Maryland leader ahead of Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season. This marked Canada’s first NFL coaching gig. Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Canada had been an OC at seven schools (Indiana, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, NC State, Pitt, LSU, Maryland) from 2007-18. Finishing his Maryland tenure as interim HC amid a scandal involving former HC D.J. Durkin, Canada surfaced with the Steelers despite not coaching during the 2019 season.
While it could certainly be fair to say Canada did not have an above-average quarterback during his tenure, Tomlin will aim to see if someone else can coax better Pickett play. Roethlisberger was a shell of his Hall of Fame version by the time Canada took over, and Mitch Trubisky did not inspire confidence to start last season. Pickett, however, has flatlined during this year’s opening stretch. Pickett ranks 28th in QBR and has managed only six touchdown passes in 10 games. He finished his rookie season with seven in 13 contests. The in-state product’s yards per attempt (6.1) and completion percentage (60.5) figures are down from 2022 as well.
As a team, the Steelers rank 29th with 14 touchdowns this season. They only put up 30 points twice during Canada’s OC tenure, and this edition ranks 31st with 170 passing yards per game. Although the team missed Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth for extended spans this season, Pickett’s slow development predated those injuries. The Steelers have also enjoyed quality health along their offensive line throughout Pickett’s tenure.
This still figures to be an uphill battle for Faulkner and Sullivan, with the 2024 offseason likely to serve as a pivotal Pickett point. But the team will attempt to salvage what could still be a playoff season. Tomlin famously has never had a losing season, and the historically high-floor operation will reassemble pieces to keep that streak going.
Sullivan’s OC opportunities came from 2012-13 (Tampa Bay) and from 2016-17 (New York). Sullivan previously ran the Bucs’ offense during Greg Schiano‘s HC tenure, which covered the end of Josh Freeman‘s run and a handful of starts from then-rookie Mike Glennon. After the Giants received the last of Odell Beckham Jr.‘s dominant seasons in 2016, they struggled amid injuries in 2017. While the team fired Ben McAdoo late in the ’17 campaign, Sullivan finished that season. He was out of football for two seasons following the 2018 slate, which he spent as the Broncos’ QBs coach.
Faulkner and Canada had worked together in the college ranks, with Faulkner following Canada from Northern Illinois to Wisconsin. Faulkner spent six seasons at NC State, being on staff at the ACC program before Canada. Faulkner handled a number of duties with the Wolfpack, but he was last a coordinator during a two-year stay (2009-10) at Ball State. Sullivan will bring 22 years’ worth of NFL assistant experience to his new role, while Faulkner joined Canada in having never coached in the pros until Tomlin offered him a job.
Finally
this is cause for celebration
Time to hire outside the organization in the off-season and get a legit offensive mind. If they promote in house then nothing will change.
Agreed
This putrid Steeler offense has Kevin Colbert to blame more than anyone. His wasting of 1st round picks on Najee and over drafting Pickett instead of trading down as well as the Bush fiasco and Edmunds overdraft. Last 5-6 drafts were bad.
he has drafted Pickens, Johnson, Freiermuth, Warren, Jones which all seem to be very good value picks. I would say hes not bad but just middle in the pack when it comes to drafting
Warren was an undrafted free agent signed by Khan
still good move, whos in charge then tho is it Colbert or Khan
Khan. Warren was signed after Colbert retired.
What a train wreck this franchise has become when Rooney himself has to fire the OC
That said, it’ll be interesting to see if Pickett is a different QB at all, and if play-calling is markedly different.
Train wreck of a franchise?? lol WOW 3 head coaches in place in the last 55 years with 6 SB wins. Get a grip on reality they’ve been a model franchise
Yeah. I’ve been a fan since ‘70. Get a grip on reality? Are you just a yinzer fan boy? Is that your problem?
Rooney hired Canada to placate Tomlin, a guy who’s run off countless good coaches from his staff
He had to fire Canada because the overrated, stubborn, prima-Donna of a coach wouldn’t. Reality, you say?
As El Gaupo points out above, they’ve drafted and traded poorly for years now and all Tomlin has done is extended his “non losing seasons” to the excitement and glee of guys like you.
I was a longtime Tomlin supporter but over the past few years it’s become clear that while he’s an adequate coach, he inherited exemplary players from the Cowher era to win at the next level
Go cry in your Terrible Towel and your number 8 jersey. When your locker room is in all out rebellion as it was after Sunday’s loss, it speaks volumes
Wake up, little boy
Trainwreck and Steelers is never in the same sentence. No doubt that there have been some questionable drafting lately, but thats not enough to consider them anything close to that. Every team has their ups and downs. Look at New England, look at the Rams, the Steelers have been a model of consistency for most of the last 50 years. They have lost more than any fan would like in the playoffs, but you have to get there and most of their games have been meaningful in the regular season. They’ll fix it.
Listen, you can be a fan of the franchise and be objective at the same time. The term “train wreck” describes the situation quite well when members of your offense are speaking loud and long about their frustrations in the locker room
As someone who’s been around for those 50 years, it’s not something that happens often here, nor is the type of play we’ve seen
That’s all
Making note of a proud franchise is nice and it should be noted that during that 50 year span, Bradshaw and Roethlisberger were QB for 31 or 32 of them. Not sure how many fans would have saluted the team during the Brister, Malone or O’Donnell eras but I get your point
And I hope you’re right, that they fix it
I just tend to think Canada was the obvious choice to go, but Pickett isn’t the answer
All true but not a great franchise in a while. Train wreck may be a little strong but debatable over the last few years. The last 2 1st round picks are showing to be big mistakes. – not model franchise moves. Just say’n
This is the greatest day in Steelers history
It’s about time!!! However, I’m not delusional and I understand that the Steelers “putrid offense” wasn’t solely on Matt Canada. He didn’t force Pickett’s underthrowing & overthrowing his receivers. He wasn’t responsible for the missed catches either.
The rot starts at the top with Tomlin.
Let’s see if they get it together the rest of the year. If not, they’ll be talk about who was really to blame. Can’t blame Canada now.
Should have canned him as well. Nothing will change as long as he is coach. Rooney forced this mover otherwise Canada would still be here.
For what?
All he has done is get out gained in every game this year, and never had a 400 yard output (I believe that is still true)
You can get fired for anything I guess.
If there isn’t 12 men on the field against Denver – do the Bills fire Dorsey?
And if Dorsey isn’t fired – is Canada fired?
*note: I dont think this is the case, but a fair amount of Bills fans think the 12 man fiasco ultimately cost Dorsey his job with the loss.
Is it possible that domino effected two teams?
It’s funny that national media…that is, ESPN….is talking about how Tomlin had to make this move to save the locker room
Pittsburgh media has made clear that Rooney fired Canada, which makes sense as HE was the one to hire him to begin with in an effort to placate Tomlin, who prefers “yes” men to qualified assistants.
Unlike Buffalo, where a talented QB is in charge, I have doubts this will change anything
It won’t. As long as Tomlin has any say at all the Steelers will always be stuck in neutral. At least we can celebrate a non-losing season each year.
Eh, Gerry Dulac claimed Rooney fired Canada and he’s not a very reliable source he’s often misinformed.
Not long after Dulac’s tweets at Tomlin’s press appearance he admitted to it being his decision.
Dulac reported it. Fittipaldo corroborated it. What would you expect Tomlin, the grand poo-bah to say? I mean, the great ego would admit someone else made the call?
I understand all about Dulac.
Meanwhile, it’s a decision that was made because locker room spoke up
Looking for the dead cat bounce to break out of their sleepwalk.
OOOOOOooo Canada out the door you go
Blame Canada. Blame Canada. For all that football-hullabaloo and that stiff Kenny Pickett, too. Blame Canada. He isn’t a real offensive coordinator anyway.
Having two co-coordinators or whatever this is 10 games into the season will not work out well for Kenny Pickett.
At last co-CO’s are from the offense side of the ball. Ask Bill B how that worked out last year using both a DC & ST Co’s for offense!
Christmas came early, but still, too little too late. This team will never change with Tomlin at the top. Players love him, but that’s because he’s zero discipline. Lets the headcases run wild and run the team into the ground. Khan is smart, he needs to be given the opportunity to mold the entire team, coaching staff included.
Byron Leftwich is still jobless…I wouldn’t be surprised if they interview him and possibly hire. He isn’t much better than Canada.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the waaaaay!
Oh what fun it is to see Matt Canada go away.
No more excuses for Kenny Pickett. If he continues to suck it’s on him, which I expect fully to be the case.
What the hell did they ever see in Kenny Pickett? His throwing mechanics are awful and always were. I just don’t get it
He went to Pitt. If he had gone to any other school he wouldn’t have been drafted earlier than the 5th round if at all.
Agree, he would have easily been there in the second round if not the third, fourth or fifth. Wasted a premier pick to beat out the non-existent competition for Pickett.
I’m not sure about Kenny, but I wish he’d started with good coaches and an O-line that didn’t hand him sacks, concussions and no running game (although that’s also on Najee too)
I get that Warren has quick bursts. Awesome. But this is the third season in which—in most cases—Najee gets the ball at about the same time as two defensive linemen get him. I’m honestly not sure that 90% of the backs in this league could do any better
They have the rookie on the line who shows a great deal of promise. But there’s a reason these other guys are castoffs from other organizations.
He’s got nice hair
cool
Now Pickett defenders have no one to blame for his awful play.
If the Steelers lose to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jake Browning on consecutive weeks, Matt Canada won’t be the only Steeler coach in the unemployment line.
History says they will lose this game.
But who will they fire? Only so many scapegoats to go around. Maybe they’ll pick on the special teams coach. Surely won’t be Tomlin.
I’m hoping this isn’t “be careful what you wish for.” Steelers win, it’s great move. Steelers lose it the adjustment to the new OC
The real test of whether anything’s changed will be the workload distribution of the RB’s on Sunday. If Warren doesn’t start and get 70% of snaps then nothing’s changed and this whole offensive debacle is much more than Canada’s fault.
The jury is very much out on Tomlin at this point.
I like Warren. His ability to hit holes quickly negates the fact that this is a horrible o-line. At least somewhat
But the real test is via Pickett. Was all of this—the dink and dunk passes, the failure to go deeper than ten yards and failure to throw over the middle—due to Canada ( and Tomlin) being too cautious, or because they realize his limitations?
Canada was overmatched in his role, but nothing happens here without Tomlin’s stamp of approval. I’m going with the idea that yeah, the game plan is going to change but this kid doesn’t have it and it’s going to show.
Local media is saying Pickett has the rest of the season to prove himself while Tomlin pontificates about what a hard worker he is.
The jury isn’t out on Tomlin. The guy believes change means an admission of being wrong
Now if we just had a quarterback
His career calling was always in his last name.