The Pittsburgh Steelers are making their second big coaching move of the 2024 offseason. Just three days after Arthur Smith was officially named the new offensive coordinator, Gerry Dulac of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed that the team will not renew the contract of wide receivers coach, Frisman Jackson.
Now that Smith is calling the offense, he will likely want to bring in a few assistant coaches to help ensure his tenure in Pittsburgh is successful. Jackson will depart after just two seasons as Pittsburgh's wide receivers coach.
Immediately after this decision was announced, Steelers fans took to 'X' in an effort to endorse new candidates for the vacant WR coaching role... and the names they are petitioning for will not surprise you.
Fans want Hines Ward as Pittsburgh's next WR coach
Hines Ward was the first name that came to mind for many fans and members of the media. This comes on the anniversary of his Super Bowl MVP.
If any position group on the Steelers roster needed a change …
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) February 5, 2024
One guy who’s a coaching free agent right now is Hines Ward, not returning to the XFL after heading up the San Antonio Brahmas last season. https://t.co/4cN3oVzKTD
Steelers should hire Hines Ward to be their WRs coach.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 5, 2024
And invent a position for Eric Bieniemy.
Steelers offensive brainpower has been LACKING for a long time.
The #Steelers have parted ways with WR Coach Frisman Jackson, opening up a spot on the offensive coaching staff.
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) February 5, 2024
I'm sure Hines Ward will be a popular name for that opening.
The things I’d do for Hines Ward to be back on the Steelers as a coach.
— Travis Gunn 🍿 (@TravisAGunn) February 5, 2024
The Steelers suddenly have a WR Coach opening on the anniversary of Hines Ward being named Super Bowl XL MVP.
— Donny Football (@DonChed54) February 5, 2024
Hines Ward as the Steelers wr coach is exactly what this wr room needs. Someone to instill the Steelers mentality.
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) February 5, 2024
Admittedly, Ward doesn't have a lot of coaching experience in the NFL ranks. After working as an offensive assistant coach on the New York Jets in 2019, Ward was eventually forced to take work as an assistant for the Florida Atlantic Owls before joining the XFL as a head coach.
So far, Ward's coaching career hasn't caught on. However, fans are now arguing that Ward would be the perfect wide receivers coach for Pittsburgh after the Steelers dealt with effort issues from both Diontae Johnson and George Pickens in 2023.
Steelers fans lobby for Antwaan Randle El
The other name that instantly came to mind for many in the Steelers fanbase is Hines Ward's former teammate, Antwaan Randle El. Of the two former players, Randle El has a more impressive coaching career. He joined the Buccaneers as an offensive assistant in 2019 before earning a job as the wide receivers coach of the Detroit Lions in 2021.
Unfortunately, many Steelers fans don't realize that Pittsburgh can't poach another team's assistant coach only to place him in an equal role. They could theoretically steal Randle El from the Lions if his new job title came with a promotion (and if Randle El was willing to leave a good situation in Detroit).
Dorin Dickerson of The Fan Morning Show on 93.7 The Fan and many others advocated for Randle El on 'X'.
Randle El; WR/Pass game coordinator.
— Dorin Dickerson (@scorindorin) February 5, 2024
That’s the route they should go. https://t.co/b8kk9k2KlY
I know people want Hines Ward.
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) February 5, 2024
The better choice would be poaching Antwaan Randle El from the Lions as WR Coach, as well as having a role in developing the pass game.
Yall want Hines as a coach, I want Randle El. We ain’t the same.
— Joey™️ (@JHenley55) February 5, 2024
I don’t know if Antwaan Randle El would leave a good thing with the Lions, but he’s one of the better WR coaches out there
— Chris Dokish (@ChrisDokish) February 5, 2024
Every Steelers fan wants Hines Ward to be our next wide receivers coach.
— Bernard Oliver (@boliver36) February 5, 2024
I'd love that, but I'd also love for Antwaan Randle El to be the receivers coach.
He has had winning NFL coach experience and perhaps he can be a bigger piece of the Steelers future offensively.
Most Steelers fans seem to be on board with the idea of bringing either Hines Ward or Antwaan Randle El to Pittsburgh to fill the vacancy as the new wide receivers coach. More likely than not, neither coach will be considered for the role.
This will likely be a joint decision by Arthur Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin, as Pittsburgh looks to go in a different direction on offense. Don't expect the Steelers to wait long to fill this void, but they may have a very different plan in mind.