Most of the new assistant coaches the Pittsburgh Steelers have hired this offseason either own connections to the team or have previously worked with Mike McCarthy. On Monday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the Steelers will interview one potential assistant who has both.
“The Steelers have requested and completed an interview with Saints TEs coach Chase Haslett for the passing game coordinator/TEs coach role on Mike McCarthy’s staff,” wrote Schultz on X.
Haslett landed his first NFL coaching gig under McCarthy with the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-22. Haslett served on the Dallas staff for McCarthy’s entire Cowboys head coaching tenure from 2020-24.
In 2025, Haslett coached tight ends for the New Orleans Saints.
The 33-year-old coach is also the son of former Steelers defensive coordinator and Saints head coach Jim Haslett.
Jim Haslett coached in the NFL from 1993-2008, 2010-14, and 2016-21. He served as Steelers defensive coordinator from 1997-1999 before becoming Saints head coach.
Jim was the Saints head coach from 2000-05. Ironically, McCarthy was his offensive coordinator in New Orleans from 2000-04.
Steelers Interviewing Chase Haslett: Report
There were jokes going around social media Monday about the Steelers hiring process. McCarthy hiring coaches from Pittsburgh or with previous experiencing coaching the Steelers and/or Pitt, though, should be expected. McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native and coached at Pitt early in his career.
Every NFL coach generally hires assistants he is comfortable with from previous stints.
The Haslett-McCarthy relationship goes back decades. While the younger Haslett isn’t a Pittsburgh native, his father is. Haslett also played quarterback at IUP, which is about an hour east of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania.
The Steelers hired former IUP offensive coordinator Frank Cignatti Jr. on Monday.
Haslett began his coaching tenure as a graduate assistant at Nebraska in 2016. After two years with the Cornhuskers, Haslett then served as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 2018.
The 2019 campaign was his last year at the college coaching ranks before joining the Cowboys. Haslett coached the Mercer tight ends in 2019.
With the Cowboys, Haslett was an offensive quality control coach from 2020-22. He was then an assistant tight ends coach in 2023 before becoming pass game specialist in 2024.
Haslett joined Kellen Moore’s first staff with the Saints in 2025. Haslett coached under Moore in Dallas as well when Moore was the team’s offensive coordinator from 2020-22.
Mike McCarthy Hiring Practices for Steelers
Haslett has yet to be hired. But there’s clearly a growing trend on Pittsburgh’s new coaching staff.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora pointed out Monday that McCarthy is close to hiring three coaches/connections that greatly helped him between his head coaching stints with the Green Bay Packers and Cowboys.
“In a 2019 interview, Mike McCarthy named 3 coaches instrumental in helping him after being fired by GB: Scott McCurley, Jim Haslett, & Frank Cignetti,” wrote Kozora.
“Since, McCurley was hired by McCarthy in Dallas & kept in Pittsburgh. Cignetti will be hired & the team may hire Haslett’s son.”
Since, McCurley was hired by McCarthy in Dallas & kept in Pittsburgh. Cignetti will be hired & the team may hire Haslett’s son.
Pittsburgh’s tight end coaching role is currently open. The Steelers didn’t retain tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts from their 2025 coaching staff.
Roberts served as Pittsburgh’s tight ends coach from 2021-25.
Under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers didn’t have a passing game coordinator in any coach’s title.
Mike McCarthy Interviewing Steelers Coaching Legacy for Offensive Staff: Report