(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Steelers are interviewing Hank Fraley for their offensive line coach job on Thursday. Fraley played at Robert Morris and was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2000. Fraley was the offensive line coach for the Lions last season. The Steelers didn't renew offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett's contact following the 2020 season.
Fraley never played a down with the Steelers in the regular season but went on to have an 11-year career at center in the NFL -- playing for the Eagles (2000-2005), Browns (2006-2009) and Rams (2010).
Fraley started his coaching career at San Diego State in 12 as their offensive line coach and then moved on to San Jose State in the same role in 2013. Fraley began his NFL coaching career as an assistant offensive line coach with the Vikings from 2014-2016. After one season at UCLA in 2017 as the offensive line coach, Fraley returned to the NFL as the Lions’ assistant offensive line coach in 2018-19 before being promoted last year.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the delay by the Steelers in naming an offensive coordinator to replace Randy Fichtner is because Mike Tomlin wants to first hire an offensive line coach to change their running game. It was reported this past Saturday that quarterbacks coach Matt Canada is expected to be promoted to offensive coordinator, but it has not been made official yet.
Per Dulac, Tomlin wants to make sure whatever changes a new offensive line coach wants or needs to make meshes with the philosophy of his offensive coordinator. Dulac says sources have told him Tomlin wants to hire the line coach as soon as possible.