PITTSBURGH — The Steelers are making some big changes to their coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley are not having their contracts renewed for next season.
Fichtner, an original member of Mike Tomlin’s first staff, had been the offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. He was previously the receivers coach and quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator after Todd Haley’s contract was not renewed after the 2017 season.
Fichtner got off to a great start with the Steelers. His offense in 2018 was ranked fourth in the NFL in total offense and sixth in scoring offense. Ben Roethlisberger led the NFL in passing yards with 5,129 and JuJu Smith-Schuster was among the league’s leading receivers with 1,426 receiving yards. Antonio Brown wasn’t far behind with 1,297 receiving yards.
Things quickly deteriorated from there for the Steelers’ offense. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third-round pick shortly after the 2018 season ended, and Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury six quarters into the 2019 season.
With Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges playing quarterback, the Steelers finished the 2019 season 30th in total offense and 27th in scoring.
With Roethlisberger back under center this past season the Steelers’ offense did not make many strides. They were the 25th-ranked offense and were last in rushing offense.
“We will not accept our current position in that area,” Tomlin said on Tuesday, when asked about the state of the Steelers’ running game. “We cannot. We have to attack that and we will.”
Sarrett had been the offensive line coach for two seasons. He was hired when Mike Munchak left to become the Broncos’ offensive line coach after the 2018 season. The Steelers ranked among the best teams in the league in pass protection during Sarrett’s short tenure, but the running game never got any traction while he was in charge.
Bradley had been the defensive backs coach since the 2018 season. For the past two seasons, Bradley and Teryl Austin split the coaching duties with the defensive backs.
In addition to those moves, longtime tight ends coach James Daniel announced his retirement. He coached the Steelers’ tight ends for 17 years and was a holdover from Bill Cowher’s staff.
