Let’s face it, we’re all living in a dream world to think anyone but Matt Canada will be designing offensive plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. But since dreams do occasionally come true, here’s a look at potential candidates.
1
Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan is No. 1 for no reason other than he’d probably get the job if Matt Canada were canned. Sure, they’d go through the “interview process” as directed by the NFL and even include a minority candidate because it’s the rule the Steelers created and, apparently, live by. But as predictable as Canada’s play-calling, we all know they’ll just promote from within. As the quarterbacks coach, Sullivan is next in the progression to be promoted. If the offense changes at all, it’ll depend on at what hypothetical in-season point Canada is shown the door. If it’s the bye week, there’d be plenty of time to add some new wrinkles to the (six) current plays, but the offense probably won’t change dramatically if Sullivan ends up the guy.
2
Mark Whipple
Mark Whipple makes the most sense to be brought in to help Kenny Pickett develop. He has NFL experience with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns and was Ben Roethlisberger’s quarterbacks coach for a spell (2004-2006) in Pittsburgh. The real clincher is that Whipple, 66, was the architect of the Pitt offense when Pickett’s stock finally rose in his final three seasons. Under Whipple, he put up 9,825 yards and 68 touchdowns (25 interceptions) and rushed for 496 yards.
3
Byron Leftwich
Under Byron Leftwich’s tutelage as offensive coordinator, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were top five in points and pass yards per game from 2019-2021. When the offense went off the rails in 2022, most of head coach Todd Bowles’ staff was fired, along with Leftwich. But he had a good thing going for a few years and knows the Pittsburgh Steelers organization from his time as backup to Ben Roethlisberger (2008, 2010-2012). It goes without saying that Kenny Pickett is no Tom Brady, but there’s no reason he can’t give the offense the spark it had in his three wildly successful seasons in Tampa.
4
Ben Roethlisberger
This pipedream candidate is definitely the biggest stretch. And even though Ben Roethlisberger has zero professional experience as an offensive coordinator, he’d still be a massive upgrade over Matt Canada. I “Backyard Ben” drew plays up in the dirt umpteen times during his future Hall of Fame career, right?
Even Pat McAfee suggested the idea. “Ben Roethlisberger — hey, Ben, we know you’re doing ‘The Footbahlin Podcast.’ And we think it’s amazing. It’s a great show. Your basement looks awesome. The beers that you have down with the boys, what a moment. You had an incredible career, won multiple Super Bowls, do what you got to do, but why not go put the headset on for the rest of the year, make some content out of it, and allow Matt Canada to watch how an NFL offense performs? I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. I think that’s very reasonable.”
One problem. Roethlisberger has no interest.
“No. No way,” he emphatically said when KDKA’s Bob Pompeani asked about his interest in putting on a headset last November.
Yes, Big Ben is enjoying retired life too much. And why shouldn’t he? He spends time with his wife and kids and drinks beer on a successful podcast. Sounds pretty good to me.
