The Steelers on Thursday officially elevated Randy Fichtner to the position of offensive coordinator, replacing Todd Haley, whose contract was not renewed after six seasons as the Steelers coordinator.
The move was expected as Fichtner, 54, was the top in-house candidate to replace Haley.
“I want to thank Coach (Mike) Tomlin and Art Rooney II for giving me this opportunity to be the offensive coordinator for this organization,” Fichtner said in a release from the team. “We have a tremendous roster, and it will be my charge to continue putting our offensive players in position to succeed and score points. We have the nucleus to be successful, and I am thrilled about the chance to lead the offense as we have already started preparing for the 2018 season.”
Fichtner, who will retain his job as quarterbacks coach, inherits an offense that ranked third in the NFL in total offense and eighth in scoring in 2017 and has ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in each of those categories the past four seasons. That's the longest such streak for the Steelers since the 1970s.
He has been with the Steelers since 2007, joining Tomlin's original staff as wide receivers coach. The two worked together at Arkansas State. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler also was on Tomlin's original staff. Fichtner moved over to quarterbacks coach in 2010 and has worked closely with Ben Roethlisberger since.
That relationship with Roethlisberger is something the Steelers found attractive, especially after deciding to part ways with Haley's sometimes abrasive personality.
Roethlisberger, 35, said in the aftermath of Sunday's 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville that he intends to return for 2018 and has told teammates he wants to play at least three more seasons -- which would be the length of the contract signed by Fichtner. The Steelers would like to sign the quarterback to a contract extension that will take him beyond the two years he currently has remaining on his deal. Roethlisberger is slated to count $23.2 million against the team's salary cap in 2018.
This will be the first time Fichtner, a graduate of Meadville (Pa.) High School and Purdue University, has been a playcaller at the professional level. But he does have previous experience calling offenses. Prior to joining the Steelers, he was offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Memphis from 2001 to 2006 and held the same position at Arkansas State from 1997 through 2000.
The elevation of Fichtner leaves the Steelers with just one coaching vacancy. Wide receivers coach Richard Mann announced his retirement Wednesday.
Tomlin has told the rest of his coaching staff there will be no changes, despite the team's stunning loss last Sunday in the AFC Divisional Playoffs to Jacksonville, a game in which the team matched its playoff record for points allowed.
