The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired a lot of assistant coaches over the past week and a half. But new head coach Mike McCarthy is still searching for his offensive coordinator.
Former McCarthy quarterback Scott Tolzien, though, will not be getting the job.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported Tuesday that Tolzien is going to stay with the New Orleans Saints as quarterbacks coach. Tolzien interviewed for the Steelers offensive coordinator position Monday.
It’s not clear if Tolzien turned down the opportunity or if the Steelers elected to go in a different direction.
Late Monday night, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reported the Steelers were planning to interview Brian Angelichio for offensive coordinator. That report came out after Tolzien met with the Steelers.
Mike McCarthy, Steelers Not Hiring Scott Tolzien
Tolzien appeared to be a natural fit as McCarthy’s first offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
Tolzien possesses experience under McCarthy as both a player and coach. From 2013-15, the former quarterback served as a depth option behind, ironically, Aaron Rodgers. Tolzien started two games for the Green Bay Packers in 2013, making three appearances overall. He also played in three contests for Green Bay during 2015.
A few years after finishing his playing career with the Indianapolis Colts, Tolzien joined McCarthy’s staff as a coaching assistant with the Dallas Cowboys. In his final two years with the team, Tolzien was Cowboys quarterbacks coach (2023-24).
Last season, he held the same role in New Orleans.
But the Steelers won’t be reuniting Tolzien and McCarthy. Tolzien will remain on Kellen Moore’s staff with the Saints.
Moore was McCarthy’s offensive coordinator in Dallas from 2020-22.
Tolzien was one of two Saints assistants that interviewed for a job in Pittsburgh on Monday but is staying in New Orleans. Saints tight ends coach Chase Haslett is also remaining in New Orleans.
Like Tolzien, Haslett coached under McCarthy in Dallas. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday morning Haslett turned down an opportunity with Pittsburgh.
McCarthy to Call Plays for Steelers in 2026
With the Steelers aiming to develop a new franchise quarterback, offensive coordinator is a key hire. But the next Pittsburgh OC won’t have as much responsibility on game days as the position had in the past.
McCarthy made clear in his introductory Steelers press conference on January 27 that he will be the offensive play-caller.
“Definitely. I will call the plays on offense, so I will run the offense,” said McCarthy.
That shouldn’t have come as a shock. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reminded his followers on X of what McCarthy said back in 2015 about being an offensive play-caller.
“Don’t know who Mike McCarthy will hire as offensive coordinator — if he does at all — but he said after briefly relinquishing play-calling duties in 2015 in Green Bay, ‘I’ll never (give up) that again,” wrote Dulac.
Typically, the best offensive coordinator openings in the league are ones where coaches have the opportunity to call plays. Those OCs have a clear path to becoming an NFL head coach.
An offensive coordinator not calling plays often has to land another OC job with play-calling duties before getting serious head coach consideration.
So, there is good and bad for the Steelers with McCarthy calling plays. The good is the team will never lose their offensive play-caller as long as he’s head coach.
But the OC opening is also not as desirable. Whether or not that played a role in Tolzien not coming to Pittsburgh isn’t clear.
Going forward, though, it’s going to be a factor for any candidate the Steelers consider for offensive coordinator.
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