With a brand new head coach comes a brand new teaching workers. That’s solely honest and proper. The Pittsburgh Steelers ought to have sufficient confidence of their head coach to entrust him with selecting the coaches who will encompass him every day. Reportedly, the staff’s present assistant coaches will solely return ought to the brand new rent elect to maintain them. The staff would profit by maintaining two of them: RBs Coach Eddie Faulkner and DBs Coach Gerald Alexander.
Faulkner’s resume is spectacular. The longest-tenured offensive coach on workers, he has discovered success with practically each participant he has coached. Former first-rounder Najee Harris notched four-straight 1,000-yard seasons, the primary Steeler to ever do this to start a professional profession. Undrafted Jaylen Warren has been molded right into a starter, the primary – and solely – Pittsburgh runner to obtain a contract extension within the Mike Tomlin period. Kenneth Gainwell went from an unheralded free agent signing to staff MVP with an acceptable elevate coming in March.
That isn’t an accident. Faulkner is a top quality coach who retains gamers engaged in follow. At coaching camp, he was incorporating new drills to maintain issues contemporary and fascinating for gamers, even when the teaching level was the identical. Catch a soccer? Strive catching playing cards as a substitute.
Typically, he targeted on ball safety. That was paramount, as ball safety is job safety. Although it’s one thing each coach in Faulkner’s place prioritizes, he repped it arduous, and the outcomes paid off. Najee Harris not often fumbled. He solely fumbled 5 instances on practically 1,100 carries (a sixth one was blamed on Russell Wilson as a substitute, however the level nonetheless stands). Warren improved drastically within the space. On his first 226 carries in his first two seasons, he fumbled 5 instances. On 211 carries in 2025, he fumbled simply as soon as.
Faulkner is a frontrunner and organizer. Mike Tomlin acknowledged these traits when he promoted him to co-offensive coordinator in 2023. Mike Sullivan dealt with play calls, however Faulkner led the essential work Monday by Saturday. He led the workers in its preparation.
Warren felt the necessity to go to bat for Faulkner. In a uncommon social media put up from him, Warren added Faulkner’s identify to Mark Kaboly’s record of coaches the Steelers ought to preserve.
Whereas a small level, Faulkner’s presence may assist usher in Dwayne Ledford as offensive line coach (assuming Pat Meyer isn’t retained). A prime candidate now that Invoice Callahan is becoming a member of Kevin Stefanski’s workers in Atlanta, Ledford and Faulkner coached collectively at NC State from 2016-2018. Synergy between the working backs and offensive line coach is essential and could be an enormous increase to a brand new head coach, particularly a first-time rent.
Faulkner is the one whom I really feel most strongly ought to keep. Alexander is second. His greatest work got here with CB Joey Porter Jr., serving to him take the subsequent step as a lockdown NFL nook. His interceptions didn’t enhance, however his play was cleaner. This was a selected teaching level Alexander carried out final spring. Brandin Echols performed above his contract, James Pierre had a profession yr, and Jalen Ramsey made a serviceable mid-season adjustment from cornerback to security. All this occurred whereas navigating the lack of DeShon Elliott for half the season.
Although a minor level, Alexander must also nonetheless be below contract. Employed again for 2025 after an preliminary stint with Pittsburgh in 2022-2023, most positional coaches ink two-year offers. That ought to put Alexander by 2026, making it simple for the brand new head coach to retain him. Simply inform Artwork Rooney II that Alexander ought to keep, and the deal is finished.
You can also make an argument for different coaches. This record doesn’t embody Danny Smith. As a lot as I personally favor him, a brand new head coach might wish to get youthful than a 72-year-old. And for all the great Smith has executed, Pittsburgh has been a downright horrible kick return staff below the brand new “dynamic” guidelines. In 2024, the Steelers ranked final. In 2025, they had been solely twenty eighth. It’s an actual Et Tu, Brute? second, however the Steelers’ particular groups have extra work to do.
Nonetheless others have legitimate instances for returning. QBs Coach Tom Arth, WRs Coach Zach Azzanni, OLB Coach Denzel Martin, and even OL Coach Pat Meyer. However the record should be selective, as change is required.
Maybe the brand new rent may have pure ties to those names. In accordance with my analysis, there are quite a few connections. 49ers’ OC Klay Kubiak performed quarterback at Colorado State, the place Pat Meyer served as OL Coach and run sport coordinator. Rams’ DC Chris Shula served below Arth at John Carroll a decade in the past. Panthers DC Ejiro Evero coached alongside Azzanni in Denver. Vikings DC Brian Flores employed Alexander in Miami. Longtime coach Mike McCarthy employed ILBs Coach Scott McCurley for his first NFL job. The 2 had been linked till the Steelers employed McCurley final yr.
However the variety of returners might be small. Far lower than the six Tomlin stored – Bruce Arians, James Daniel, John Mitchell, Dick LeBeau, Ray Horton, and Lou Spanos – after being employed in 2007. It’s additionally unlikely the complete workers might be model new. Typically, there may be some carryover, even when it’s only one identify. If it’s two, make it Eddie Faulkner and Gerald Alexander.
