Mike Tomlin made a big coaching decision Wednesday.
The Steelers’ head coach is retaining Matt Canada as the team’s offensive coordinator, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Steelers have no plans to replace offensive coordinator Matt Canada and he is expected to return in 2023, per sources https://t.co/aF3nnZsgLk
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 18, 2023
“Steelers have no plans to replace offensive coordinator Matt Canada and he is expected to return in 2023, per sources,” Dulac wrote in a tweet.
A team’s spokesperson later confirmed the report to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
Recently, Kenny Pickett appeared on a podcast hosted by Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, in which the rookie quarterback talked about his relationship with the Steelers’ offensive play-caller, which dates back to when Canada was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016.
“I’ve known Coach Canada for a long time, since about 2015,” Pickett said via Blitzburgh USA Videos on Twitter. “So, we have a great relationship…I’m excited to continue to work with him this offseason.”
While Canada has drawn praise from Pickett, he’s also drawn the ire of Steelers fans. Judging by the reactions on social media, retaining Canada as offensive coordinator is not a popular move in the eyes of the NFL world, particularly those loyal and faithful to the black and yellow.
Very excited for Matt Canada to return for 2023, have another "meh" season, have his contract not renewed with the Steelers softly saying they've "parted ways" with him and for this process to start all over for 2024 while Kenny Pickett is another year older.
Yay.
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 18, 2023
“Very excited for Matt Canada to return for 2023, have another “meh” season, have his contract not renewed with the Steelers softly saying they’ve “parted ways” with him and for this process to start all over for 2024 while Kenny Pickett is another year older. Yay,” wrote Alex Kozora in a tweet.
One thing I think about the whole Canada thing: Stability for your young QB is a good thing. But stability for the sake of stability is NOT a good thing. That just creates stagnation. And i would be worried that's what could happen here.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 18, 2023
“One thing I think about the whole Canada thing: Stability for your young QB is a good thing,” said Nick Farabaugh, a Steelers beat writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now, in a tweet. “But stability for the sake of stability is NOT a good thing. That just creates stagnation. And I would be worried that’s what could happen here.”
Defensive players were literally yelling “it’s the same plays” on the field!!
— Hector Ricky Flores (@rix530) January 18, 2023
“Defensive players were literally yelling “it’s the same plays” on the field!!” wrote Hector Ricky Flores in a tweet.
Terrible news for Pickett
— Sean Koerner (@The_Oddsmaker) January 18, 2023
“Terrible news for Pickett,” Sean Koerner of The Action Network wrote in a tweet.
[Gerry Dulac, Brooke Pryor, Blitzburgh USA Videos]
