Steelers fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed the difficulty of this decision, emphasizing his responsibility to support and defend his colleagues. While he acknowledged his respect for Canada both personally and professionally, Tomlin made it clear that this choice was not made lightly. 

According to NFL, after the firing of Canada, Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will be taking on the responsibilities of offensive coordinators. Faulkner is anticipated to serve as the interim OC, while Sullivan, who has previously worked as a coordinator for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will handle play-calling duties.

Confirming this news on Tuesday, Tomlin said that Faulker and Sullivan will now share the OC duties, and emphasized that the decision to fire Canada was solely his own. 

Canada joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as the quarterbacks coach in 2020 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021, taking over for Randy Fichtner. As a highly experienced college offensive coordinator, Canada was expected to bring a modern and innovative approach to Pittsburgh's offense by incorporating new strategies and updating the passing game. However, what the Steelers actually got was a watered-down version of this vision, as the new scheme lacked cohesion and failed to consistently pressure the opposing defense or deliver successful plays.

Throughout Canada's tenure as offensive coordinator, the Steelers never managed to rank higher than 23rd in yards gained and 21st in points scored. As of 2023, they currently rank 28th in both yards gained and points scored. This lackluster performance is especially evident in the passing game, with Kenny Pickett as the quarterback. In 2023, Pittsburgh ranks 31st in passing yards and 31st in touchdown passes (finishing last season at 32nd in touchdown passes).

The Steelers have been unable to generate more than 400 total yards in a game for a staggering 58 consecutive matchups, spanning the entirety of Canada's play-calling reign. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered another brutal loss on Sunday to the Cleveland Browns, with a final score of 13-10. In the first half of the game, the Steelers were only able to generate a meager 64 total yards, including a dismal 15 net passing yards.

This was the second time this season that the Steelers failed to score any points and accumulated less than 70 total yards in the first half of a game. Throughout the entire game, Pittsburgh only managed to produce 77 net passing yards, which was the lowest since Week 17 in 2019 when Devlin Hodges was the quarterback.

When asked about his decision to move on from Canada as the offensive coordinator, coach Tomlin acknowledged that there were many factors involved. He said that their recent performance played a role in his decision and that sometimes, as a coach, you simply know when you have reached a breaking point. Tomlin emphasized that he did not make this decision lightly and that it was based on a combination of various factors. 

Despite the struggles on offense during the offseason, the Steelers made the decision to stick with Canada, believing that it would be beneficial for Pickett's development as a young quarterback. However, as his second season has progressed, Pickett has faced significant challenges and has struggled greatly. 

In a recent statement to reporters, Tomlin reaffirmed his support for Pickett, stating that he will continue to be the team's starting quarterback, with Trubisky serving as the backup. Tomlin's faith in Pickett remains unwavering, as he sees firsthand the quarterback's dedication and work ethic on a daily basis. 

Tomlin believes that Pickett's commitment and hard work will eventually pay off, as there is a notion of football justice where deserving players ultimately succeed. Consequently, Tomlin remains optimistic about Pickett's growth and development as a quarterback. 

For over a year, Steelers fans have been demanding Caranda's removal from his position. Despite constant criticism, Tomlin had consistently defended his Offensive Coordinator and disregarded the fans' pleas for change. However, the underperforming offense became impossible to ignore, especially with the risk of missing out on a potential playoff season. 

Despite being at 6-4 and ranked No. 7 in the AFC, Pittsburgh has a poor point differential of -29, making them one of only two teams in 2023, along with Seattle, to have a winning record and a negative point differential by Week 11. 

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