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The Pittsburgh Steelers made history on November 21 with their first in-season coordinator change in franchise’s 90 years. So maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is choosing a little bit of an unorthodox way of filling the position.
Tomlin explained to reporters at his press conference on November 21 that running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will hold the offensive coordinator title. However, quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will call offensive plays.
“I’m exciting about Eddie Faulkner coordinating our efforts,” Tomlin told the media.
“Organizing staff responsibilities in meetings. Organizing game planning. Leading our unit as a collective in review of our tape and in preparation of upcoming opponents and things of that nature.
“Things that the coordinator does. He has full authority in that regard and my support.
“Then from a play caller perspective, the bulk of that responsibility will fall on Mike Sullivan. That’s also a really natural thing because he’s done it in two different locations in the National Football League. He has tangible experience. I’m sure that will be helpful. But also, and probably more importantly, as a quarterbacks coach, he works closely with Kenny [Pickett]. Looking for fluidity in that area and some cohesion there.
“Hopefully, that aides us as well.”
Faulkner and Sullivan will both replace Matt Canada, who the Steelers fired on November 21.
Steelers Promote Mike Sullivan, Eddie Faulkner to Offensive Coordinator
Tomlin compared replacing Canada to when the team loses a starting player. Typically, the Steelers head coach has called on multiple backups, sometimes from various positions, to pick up the slack when a starter is missing.
That’s essentially what Tomlin is asking Sullivan and Faulkner to do together for the final seven games.
Sullivan has previous NFL play calling experience. He served as Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator from 2012-13. Sullivan then had the same role with the New York Giants in 2016-17.
His best statistical offense was with the Buccaneers in 2012. Tampa Bay was ninth in yards, 10th in passing yards and 13th in points scored that season.
Like Canada, Sullivan began his coaching career in college. But Sullivan has been coaching in the NFL since 2002. He’s held the positions of quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, an offensive assistant and defensive quality control in addition to offensive coordinator.
Faulkner spent the 2001 training camp with the Steelers as a player but didn’t make the roster. His coaching career began a year later at the college level.
He joined the Steelers coaching staff as running backs coach in 2019, which was his first NFL position. Faulkner is the longest-tenured offensive assistant on Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff.
Mike Tomlin Fired Matt Canada
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported on November 21 that Steelers owner Art Rooney II was the one who fired Canada.
But Tomlin implied early during his November 21 press conference that he made the decision to move on from Canada.
“I made a change at the coordinator position. Did not come to this decision lightly to be really transparent with you,” said Tomlin at the beginning of his press conference.
“I thought it was necessary. This is a result-oriented business. To be short, the improvements were not rapid enough or persistent enough to proceed.”
Then when asked with a direct question about the decision to fire Canada, Tomlin said Rooney and general manager Omar Khan were not consulted.
“Leadership is lonely,” Tomlin said. “I don’t run from it, I run to it. It was mine and mine alone.”
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