Haley is Steelers’ new offensive coordinator
While the team has not yet confirmed the reports, several sources, including ESPN and the NFL Network are reporting that former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has been offered the job as the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator.
The Steelers were seeking an offensive coordinator following the team’s firing (at the time called a “retirement”) of Bruce Arians. Arians promptly unretired, and accepted a position as offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
The prevailing wisdom was that the Steelers were going to promote from within. Running backs coach Kirby Wilson, and quarterback coach Randy Fichtner were considered to be the most likely candidates.
When the Steelers started bringing in outsiders to interview for the position, most thought that it was just a symbolic gesture. Haley’s interview in particular was seen as a courtesy gesture to honor the fact that his father, Dick Haley, was the former director of player personnel who helped build the championship teams of the 70′s. Haley was seen as an abrasive personality who wouldn’t fit in well with the Steelers.
But we should all know by now that trying to guess what the Steelers are going to do is a losing venture. As an example, everyone was sure that the Steelers were going to hire either Ken Whisenhunt or Russ Grimm to replace Bill Cowher. Instead, they hired Mike Tomlin.
It will be interesting to hear Ben Roethlisberger’s thoughts on the hiring. Roethlisberger wasn’t happy when Arians was fired, and he has made his unhappiness known. Some thought that the Steelers might promote Fichtner in order to give Ben a sense of continuity.
The Steelers organization has yet to confirm the hiring. Moreover, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has not reported the story either. So there is a slight chance that the story may prove to be untrue. However, we thought it best to make our readers aware of the reports.
If this is true, I have a bad feeling about this.
1Dan,
It’s true. The Steelers have now made the official announcement. Haley is the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator.
I guess he’ll have to turn your bad feeling into a good feeling.
2He seemed to be good at Arizona, though he had Warner, Bolden, and Fitzgerald. He was pretty abysmal in K.C., failing to realize he had Jamal Charles on the roster. They say he’s kind of a jerk, too.
This offense has loads of talent at QB and WR but not at OL. I just hope Haley and the Steelers organization realizes this before changing too much on offense. What kind of offense does Haley run, anyways?
3I think if it isn’t broken don’t fix it was a strong justification for keeping a guy who brought us to AFC championships and one Lombardi. On the other hand, being 21st in scoring this year with the talent on hand at receiver and QB before the injury in the Cleveland game is cause for some concern at Offensive Coordinator. At the end of the day, however, talent and player health will be a greater determinant of performance next year. I look forward to the great draft analysis we’re all waiting for
4When Ben throws a long, deep pass, will they call it “Haley’s comet”? Heh.
I don’t feel too bad about him. If they do well, it will be viewed as a great decision, and if they do poorly, it will be viewed as terrible.
His system has been adaptable to the talent. More pass oriented in Arizona, more run oriented.
When did fail to realize he had Jamal Charles on the roster? Charles spent most of this year on IR.
5“It will be interesting to hear Ben Roethlisberger’s thoughts on the hiring. Roethlisberger wasn’t happy when Arians was fired, and he has made his unhappiness known”
When was that? I didn’t hear him say anything really about being unhappy to the press. Can you linked me to it?
6