The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most uninspiring offensive teams in the entire National Football League and offensive coordinator Matt Canada is on the hot seat. Entering Week 6 of the season, the team is tied for 29th in points (15.8), 28th in passing yards (187.8) and 30th in rushing yards (80.4).
While the players have to absorb some of the blame, Matt Canada also deserves some flack. With the team scoring 10 or fewer points in three of their first five games, it is time to discuss some potential replacements that Mike Tomlin needs to begin figuring this out sooner rather than later. Today, we have three names that should be in the discussion to be calling plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season once Matt Canada is fired.
Matt Canada Replacement: Jon Gruden
This might sound random out of the blue but Jon Gruden makes a lot of sense. People are going to remember the leaked emails but this would not be his first NFL job since being fired by the Las Vegas Raiders two years ago as he was a consultant for the New Orleans Saints during the preseason.
There is also a connection as Gruden and Tomlin are friends. Professionally, Gruden hired Tomlin when he was coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so could this be the resurgence of Jon Gruden to the NFL?
Byron Leftwich
Byron Leftwich was the offensive coordinator when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their most recent Super Bowl and should be in consideration here as well. It was reported that Leftwich actually reached out to the Steelers to help aid the offense and this could be a perfect fit.
Leftwich called the plays for the Buccaneers and has Bruce Arians as a reference for how he does. Pittsburgh loves winners and that is what Leftwich would be bringing with him to the Steel City.
Mike Sullivan
Instead of hiring a big-name coordinator, they could promote from within and give quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan the reigns of the offense. While he has had a pair of stints in the offensive coordinator position before becoming part of the Steelers organization, it’s better than what Matt Canada has been doing.
He served as the offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers in 2012 and 2013 as well as with the New York Giants in 2016 and 2017. Sullivan had a great season with Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. dominating the league and that could potentially be Kenny Pickett and George Pickens in the near future.