Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers continued their coaches hiring spree Thursday.
At nearly the same time Thursday afternoon, two different CBS Sports insiders reported on the Steelers adding two separate assistants.
First, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote on X the team is expected to hire Derius Swinton II as a senior special teams assistant coach.
Minutes later, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported the Steelers were also adding Eric Simonelli as an offensive quality control coach.
The average Steelers fan very likely didn’t know either assistant before Thursday. Still, their additions are likely to be met with a lot of positivity.
Their hires indicate the team is probably going to have a larger coaching staff than it did under Mike Tomlin.
“Of reported/confirmed hiring, the Steelers on-field coaching staff currently sits at 19,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “Our 2025 study charted Pittsburgh for 19 entering the regular season, the fewest in football.
“Mike McCarthy set to blow past that figure.”
Steelers Hire 2 More Assistants: Report
The size of McCarthy’s Steelers coaching staff is becoming a positive narrative in Pittsburgh this offseason. McCarthy is hiring coaches to positions that didn’t exist for years under Tomlin.
With Swinton, the Steelers will have two special teams coaches on their staff for the first time since 2011 according to Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora.
Granted, since 2013, the team had longtime special teams coach Danny Smith coordinate the unit. Pundits regard Smith as one of the best in the league.
Still, an extra coach for the position group could help the team improve in the return game, which its badly needed to do for years.
Swinton has been coaching special teams in the NFL in some capacity since 2009. He’s held positions with the Los Angeles Rams (in St. Louis at the time), Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders.
From 2023-25, Swinton served as the Raiders assistant special teams coach.
Simonelli will arrive in Pittsburgh from the college ranks. He was an assistant linebackers coach for TCU last season.
From 2019-24, Simonelli worked under McCarthy with the Dallas Cowboys. His last position during 2024 was quality control coach.
Mike McCarthy to Have Bigger Staff Than Mike Tomlin?
McCarthy has been busy addressing his coaching staff for nearly two weeks. On Thursday, the Steelers added two assistants coaches for a consecutive day.
McCarthy’s hiring spree this offseason will help the Steelers fight a narrative that’s been growing in recent years — Art Rooney II was too cheap to expand Pittsburgh’s small coaching staff.
The Steelers had one of the smallest staffs in the league under Tomlin in 2025.
On Thursday, Kozora theorized there could be two reasons why the Steelers will have a larger coaching staff under McCarthy next season. The first reason was Tomlin preferred smaller coaching staffs.
It’s also possible Rooney has allotted potentially more funds for assistants because the team is spending less at head coach.
The last point doesn’t dispel that Rooney is a “cheap” NFL owner. But more assistant coaches will likely slow the narrative and should help the Steelers modernize their organization before next season.
Steelers Provide Great News With More Coaching Staff Additions