The Steelers are in the market for a wide receivers coach — and a former Jets is among their choices.
Bryan McClendon, the former offensive coordinator and wide receivers at the University of South Carolina is considered to be a favorite for the opening, but longtime Jets wideout Jerricho Cotchery is still in the mix, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Cotchery was an assistant wide receivers coach on Ron Rivera’s staff in Carolina following the commencement of his NFL career in 2015. Cotchery was not retained by new Carolina head coach Matt Rhule.
Originally drafted out of North Carolina State in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Cotchery was one of the Jets’ better homegrown players during his stay in New York.
For his career, Cotchery had 524 receptions for 6,623 yards and 34 touchdowns. While he enjoyed a successful career in green and white, Cotchery fell out of favor, becoming the team’s third option at receiver once Rex Ryan and Co. acquired Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards via trade.
Cotchery finished the 2010 season with 41 catches for 433 yards with two touchdowns while playing in 14 games. He started five games, his lowest number since the 2005 season when he was a second-year player and fourth-string wideout.
Coming into the 2011 season, Cotchery asked for his release just a month before the start of the season. He signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh and caught 79 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns in 43 games for the Steelers.
In Carolina, Cotchery caught 87 passes for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns and played in Super Bowl 50.
