(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
The Steelers parted ways with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner on Thursday by not renewing his contract, and now it appears they have their replacement. According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Steelers are expected to promote quarterbacks coach Matt Canada to offensive coordinator.
Canada was regarded as one of the most creative minds in college football but he has no experience in the NFL as a play-caller. This past season as the Steelers' quarterbacks coach was his first year in the NFL.
Canada is known to be creative with pre-snap motions, shifts and jet sweeps. He had success at Indiana, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, NC State and Pitt as a quarterbacks coach and play-caller. Pitt set records for points per game (40.9) and points in a season (532) in Canada’s only season with the program. Canada was named the offensive coordinator at LSU in 2017, but things didn't work out there with head coach Ed Orgeron, and they mutually parted ways after the season.
Canada was hired as the offensive coordinator at Maryland in 2018 and was promoted as the interim head coach before the season as D.J. Durkin was put on administrative leave following the death of Jordan McNair, an offensive lineman at Maryland. Mike Locksley was hired as the permanent head coach at Maryland after the 2018 season and Canada was relieved of the day-to-day head coaching responsibilities and wasn't brought back.
Canada also interviewed with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday for their vacant offensive coordinator position, but it appears he's staying in Pittsburgh.
Canada will serve as the Steelers' fourth offensive coordinator under Mike Tomlin, following Bruce Arians, Todd Haley and Fichtner, and will be the fifth offensive coordinator for Ben Roethlisberger, who's expected to return in 2021.