Mike Tomlin didn't wait as long as expected to make changes to his coaching staff.
The Steelers announced Thursday that the contracts of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley will not be renewed.
Tomlin said Wednesday that those kind of decisions had not been made as of yet, but hinted that changes to his staff could be coming.
"We haven’t had any of those discussions. Change is a part of our business. I’ll acknowledge the possibility for that," Tomlin said. "We are just beginning the process of having those types of meaty discussions that usually produce changes or non-changes. And so, it is that time of year. I anticipate those discussions happening and happening rather soon as we plot a course to move forward."
Rather soon came quickly.
Fichtner had been with the Steelers for 13 years as a member of Tomlin's original staff. The Meadville, Pa. native, was hired by Tomlin in 2007 as his wide receivers coach. He became the team's quarterback coach in 2010, holding that position until 2018 when he took on the duties of offensive coordinator, as well, when Todd Haley was not retained.
While Haley's relationship with Ben Roethlisberger was often contentious, part of the reason Fichtner was elevated was because he and the quarterback had a great relationship.
In 2018, the Steelers set team records for passing yards and touchdown passes, but failed to make the playoffs at 9-6-1. In 2018, with Roethlisberger hurt for most of the season, the team's record dipped to 8-8 as the offense struggled to find its footing without the quarterback.
This season, the Steelers went 12-4 but were bounced from the playoffs last weekend in a 48-37 defeat at the hands of the Browns in a game in which the offense turned the ball over 5 times.
The Steelers ranked 4th, 30th and 24th in total yards in Fichtner's three seasons of running the offense and 6th, 27th and 12th in points.
But the team's inability to run the ball, despite a stated desire from team president Art Rooney II, was Fichtner's downfall. The Steelers ranked 31st, 29th and 32nd running the ball in Fichtner's three seasons, including setting a record for the fewest rushing yards in team history.
Sarrett spent eight years with the Steelers, the first six as the assistant offensive line coach. He moved up to replace Mike Munchak as offensive line coach in 2019 when Munchak took the same position with the Broncos to be closer to family in Denver.
The Steelers allowed an NFL-low 14 sacks in 2020, but their rushing average dipped to 3.6 yards per carry, the lowest in the league, with Sarrett, as the offensive line coach, directing much of the run game.
Bradley, meanwhile, was a longtime assistant at Penn State before spending time at West Virginia and UCLA. The Johnstown native joined the Steelers in 2018 as defensive backs coach, replacing Carnell Lake.
Bradley, who turns 65 later this year, oversaw a unit that has blossomed the past two seasons with addition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But he also saw some of his duties taken away from him with the hiring of Teryl Austin in 2019 as the senior defensive assistant/secondary.
LOLLEY'S VIEW
That Fichtner and Sarrett were not retained are not a surprise.
The Steelers' inability and often refusal to run the ball was an issue -- especially when Rooney had made the announcement that the team needed to find a way to do that better.
It will be interesting to see if this affects Roethlisberger's decision about whether to return in 2021 or not.
And with the potential for a big offensive line makeover this offseason, the Steelers will have a younger line that might be better served with a veteran offensive line coach. Sarrett continued many of the teachings of Munchak, but he also had veterans on that line who had played under Munchak.
Bradley's replacement is something of a surprise, though, as mentioned, Austin had taken over some of his duties, working with the safeties. Still, the Steelers were one of just three teams this season that permitted 200 or less passing yards.
