After some coaching staff drama to begin the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers are nearing an agreement with Brian Angelichio to be the team’s next offensive coordinator.
NFL insider Mark Kaboly first reported Angelichio was close to a deal to be the next Steelers OC. Kaboly wrote on X the two sides were nearing a contract agreement Tuesday night.
It could be official as early as Wednesday.
Steelers Now’s Harry Psaros also reported the Steelers and Angelichio were close to a deal.
Angelichio served as the Minnesota Vikings pass game coordinator and tight ends coach the past four years. Angelichio was the Green Bay Packers tight ends coach under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy from 2016-18.
Steelers to Hire Brian Angelichio as Offensive Coordinator: Report
McCarthy made clear in his Steelers introductory press conference he will call the offensive plays. So, Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator role won’t have as many responsibilities as it did with Mike Tomlin.
But the coordinator role was still a key job to fill for McCarthy, with the Steelers needing to develop a quarterback.
Interestingly, Angelichio comes from a tight ends background. He has coached that position in some capacity at the NFL level since 2012.
Angelichio began his NFL coaching career under Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After two seasons in Tampa Bay, he joined the Cleveland Browns. The Browns had several future NFL head coaches on staff when Angelichio joined the organization in 2014.
After coaching with the Packers, Angelichio then coached tight ends with the then Washington Redskins in 2019 and Carolina Panthers from 2020-21.
Angelichio also has 17 seasons of college coaching experience. He was the Pitt tight ends coach from 2006-10.
His most recent offensive coordinator experience was at Ithaca from 2000-05.
The Steelers have yet to hire a tight ends coach this offseason. It’s possible Angelichio could fill that role as well, but McCarthy is likely not done adding to his coaching staff.
Coaches with tight end backgrounds as Steelers offensive coordinator is not unusual. Arthur Smith also coached tight ends before becoming the Steelers OC.
Before hiring Angelichio, the Steelers reportedly considered Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for their OC opening as well.
Steelers Not Hiring Scott Tolzien, Chase Haslett
The Steelers scored a big win on the coaching carousel with Angelichio shortly after the team didn’t hire a pair of New Orleans Saints assistants.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday that Saints tight ends coach Chase Haslett turned down an opportunity to join McCarthy’s staff.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also reported the same day Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien dropped out of the Steelers OC search.
Social media users speculated Tolzien also turned down the Steelers. However, that was not confirmed, and Steelers pundits pushed back on that idea, arguing it was much more likely the team turned to Angelichio as their top choice.
Both Tolzien and Haslett coached under McCarthy in Dallas. Each coach also had a relationship with the Steelers new head coach before that.
Tolzien played quarterback for the Packers under McCarthy from 2013-15. McCarthy coached, ironically, in New Orleans under Haslett’s father, Jim.
From 2000-04, Jim Haslett was the Saints head coach while McCarthy served as offensive coordinator.
But neither coach is leaving New Orleans. While both could have been a fit in Pittsburgh, Angelichio appears to be a strong hire as Steelers OC.
Steelers Making Final Call on Mike McCarthy’s First OC: Report