The Steelers coaching staff will be working the sidelines for the Pro Bowl and that group that travels to Orlando for the game Jan. 28 might include a new offensive coordinator.
Ben Roethlisberger said in the aftermath of Sunday's 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville that he will return for the 2018 season with the Steelers. But sources say the Steelers would like to sign their franchise quarterback to a contract extension beyond his current deal, which runs out in 2019. And for that to happen, Roethlisberger could insist offensive coordinator Todd Haley not be back with the team next season.
Haley, who has been with the Steelers since 2012, has helped Roethlisberger to some of his best seasons throwing the football and has been instrumental in developing Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell to build the best quarterback-receiver-running back trio in the NFL. But his contract is up and he has clashed with Roethlisberger at times throughout his tenure.
Haley was brought in after the Steelers declined to pick up the contract of Bruce Arians, a close friend/confidant of Roethlisberger, with the mandate from team president Art Rooney II to make sure the quarterback's career was extended. Once one of the most-sacked quarterbacks in the NFL, Roethlisberger has been sacked 20, 17 and 21 times in the past three seasons despite attempting over 1,500 passes in that period.
Roethlisberger, 35, has two years remaining on his current contract and his salary cap hit is currently scheduled to jump from $18.2 million this season to $23.2 million in both 2018 and 2019. The Steelers would like to add at least one and possibly two more seasons to his current deal to lower his cap hit for 2018.
It's a far different situation than a year ago when the quarterback said he needed time to think about whether he would return in 2017 just two days after the Steelers lost in the AFC Championship to New England. Roethlisberger later announced he was coming back and had a strong season after a slow start, throwing for 4,251 yards, 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games.
He had a team-record 469 passing yards and five touchdowns in the loss to the Jaguars.
The Steelers finished third in the NFL in total offense in 2017 and haven't been lower than seventh overall since 2013.
If Haley is not retained, the Steelers could look for a replacement on their current staff. Quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner is close with Roethlisberger and has experience as a play caller at the collegiate level. He was an offensive coordinator at the University of Memphis from 2001 through 2006, instituting a spread offense at the school and recruiting former Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams there.
Jim Caldwell, a former head coach with Indianapolis and Detroit, could also be in the mix. He was a finalist for the Steelers' offensive coordinator position when Haley was hired.
Haley might not be the only Steelers assistant coach to not return in 2018. Wide receivers coach Richard Mann and assistant head coach/defensive line John Mitchell also could retire.
