If one is to believe recent Steelers news, it seems all but certain the Steelers will jettison offensive coordinator Matt Canada before the 2023 season.
Certainly, ditching Matt Canada will not come soon enough to many critics of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. However, moving on from Canada is one thing. Finding a quality replacement is another issue entirely. Analysts have their theories, and Fans will make their opinion known. There will be no shortage of suggestions, ranging anywhere between Duce Staley, Frank Reich, Ben Roethlisberger, or someone’s 95-year-old grandmother.
Regardless of who they hire, it would be hard for them to do much worse than Canada. Nevertheless, they don’t want to rush the selection either. If they make the right choice, it could reinvigorate the Steelers offense for 2023. Furthermore, it would serve the Steelers well to find an independent thinker who will not be a yes-man for Mike Tomlin. The one critique for Tomlin, if there is one to be had, is that some have argued he has had a tendency to run off decent assistant coaches. True or not, perhaps the Rooneys might want to be more involved in seeking a replacement for Canada.
While the rumor mill of potential replacement candidates has been circulating for months, new potential candidates have been thrown into the mix in the last month. Hence it all comes down to the route the Steelers wish to go. Someone with a long resume as a coach or an ex-player trying to establish himself as a coach.
That said, some names who will never get hired will be thrown out there, such as Byron Leftwich, who will likely get a head coaching job long before the Steelers can get him as their offensive coordinator. Thus here are the five potential candidates that should make the Steelers shortlist for their offensive coordinator in 2023.