Welcome to our new Steelers Live Wire, a round-the-clock feature that offers news that's fast, friendly to use and fun. The previous week's entry is right here.
As they say, here we go ...
STEELERS SHOWN INTEREST
IN NAJEEE HARRIS
9 p.m. Tuesday: Senior Bowl weigh-ins and the first practice were held today. And as usually happens, reports come out regarding certain teams seen talking to certain players.
In this case, it was the Steelers showing interest in Alabama running back Najee Harris -- at least according to PFN's Tony Pauline -- though Pauline didn't say exactly how the Steelers were showing interest.
Harris measured just a shade under 6-foot-2 and weighed in at 230 pounds. He also has 10-inch hands, which helps explain why he's an above average receiver out of the backfield. -- Lolley
STEELERS ANNOUNCE
CANADA AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
5:30 p.m. Monday: As expected, the Steelers announced Matt Canada as being promoted to being the team's offensive coordinator. The move creates a vacancy for quarterback coach on the staff, but keeps Canada around to build the the offense for the future. Canada's first year as an NFL assistant and quarterback coach for the Steelers oversaw Ben Roethlisberger throwing 33 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions, tying his career best margin between the two statistics (2014). -- Carter
STEELERS FINALIZING DEAL
WITH CANADA AS OC
3:30 p.m. Monday: The Steelers interviewed Matt Canada, Hue Jackson and Pep Hamilton for their vacant offensive coordinator position and have determined that Canada is their man.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the team is in the process of finalizing the deal to elevate Canada from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
The #Steelers are finalizing a deal with Matt Canada to become their offensive coordinator, per source. Deal is considered imminent.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 25, 2021
The move comes a week after previous reports surfaced that Canada, who joined the Steelers in 2020, would be getting the job. That obviously didn't happen right away, but he remained the favorite.
Canada, 49, has been an coach since 1994, but the Steelers were his first official NFL job. Previously, he had coached in college, including at Pitt in 2016.
He will replace Randy Fichtner, who was not retained after the 2020 season, his third year as the Steelers offensive coordinator. -- Lolley
STEELERS HIRE ROBERTS
TO COACH TIGHT ENDS
2:45 p.m. Monday: The Steelers hired former Chargers running backs and tight end coach Alfredo Roberts to replace James Daniel as their tight ends coach on Monday.
Roberts spent the last four seasons with the Chargers, including as their tight ends coach in 2020. Prior to that he was the Chargers running backs coach for three seasons.
Roberts also has coached tight ends with the Jaguars, Browns, Bucs and Colts. He played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (1988-90) and three with the Dallas Cowboys (1991-93), where he was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams.
Daniel retired at the conclusion of the 2020 season.
The hiring of Roberts means the Steelers have three remaining openings on their coaching staff: offensive coordinator, offensive line and defensive backs. -- Lolley
FRALEY WON'T BE
JOINING STEELERS
8 p.m. Sunday: Offensive line coach candidate Hank Fraley will be returning to the Lions in that same capacity.
Fraley interviewed for the Steelers' vacant offensive line coach job, but after meeting with new Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Fraley, who joined the Lions just this season, will be staying on with Detroit.
At this point, Fraley is the only candidate who has officially interviewed for the job with the Steelers. -- Lolley
RAMON WEIGHS IN
6:12 p.m. Sunday: Our own Ramon Foster, who's been texting with Maurkice Pouncey regularly, sounds caution. -- DK
Trust me...FAKE NEWS. No decision has been made. https://t.co/WYMCCzywzm
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) January 24, 2021
POUNCEY LEANING
TOWARD RETIREMENT
4:45 p.m. Sunday: The Steelers saw tight end Vance McDonald retire last week. It looks like he'll be joined by center Maurkice Pouncey.
We have confirmed Pouncey has informed teammates he intends to officially retire, something I had speculated on following the team's playoff loss to the Browns when the Pro Bowl center sat with Ben Roethlisberger long after everyone else had left the field. Roethlisberger then spoke of Pouncey in the past tense. He does not, however, according to sources, make any kind of official announcement.
Pouncey just wants to walk into retirement on his own once the decision is final.
A first-round draft pick in 2010, Pouncey became an immediate starter for the Steelers. He was voted to the Pro Bowl nine times and All-Pro five times, including three to the first-team.
Pouncey's retirement would save the Steelers $8 million against their 2021 salary cap. McDonald's retirement saves the team $5.2 million. -- Lolley
HODGES SIGNS ON
WITH RAMS
2:30 p.m. Sunday: Former Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges signed a futures deal with the Rams.
Hodges, who started six games for the Steelers in 2019 when Ben Roethlisberger was injured, spent the 2020 season on the team's practice squad but did not have his contract renewed at the end of the season. He made his first career start in Los Angeles, leading the Steelers to a win over the Chargers and Philip Rivers.
Hodges announced his deal on Twitter. -- Lolley
Excited for the opportunity to sign and be apart of the @RamsNFL! I’ve been to LA before ;) let’s get it! pic.twitter.com/2gqGDNhcuo
— Devlin Hodges (@DevlinHodges10) January 24, 2021
HILLIARD NOT GOING
TO LIONS
7 p.m. Saturday: The Lions had received permission to talk to Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard about their offensive coordinator opening.
The former teammate of new head coach Dan Campbell won't be getting the job, however. Campbell hired former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn to be his offensive coordinator Saturday night.
Of course, that news came at about the same time it was announced the Lions are also set to move on from quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions' top two receivers, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones also are set to be unrestricted free agents, as well. Detroit, which hasn't won a playoff game since 1991, could be a complete rebuild -- again. -- Lolley