The Steelers have hired a quarterbacks coach. And he's a longtime NFL assistant.
According to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Steelers will hire longtime Giants assistant coach Mike Sullivan as their quarterbacks coach to replace Matt Canada, who was elevated to the position of offensive coordinator.
The #Steelers are hiring longtime NFL assistant Mike Sullivan as their QBs coach, sources say. It’s a role he had with the #Giants and #Broncos. So Eli Manning’s former QB coach will now work with fellow ‘04 draftee Ben Roethlisberger (assuming Ben returns, of course).
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 4, 2021
Sullivan, 54, has spent two different stints with the Giants, working from 2004 through 2009 as wide receivers coach before becoming quarterbacks coach in 2010 and 2011.
He left to become offensive coordinator of the Buccaneers in 2012, holding that position through 2014. Sullivan returned to the Giants in 2015 after being fired along with head coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay, taking over quarterbacks coach job again with the Giants.
In 2016, he was elevated to offensive coordinator after Ben McAdoo was elevated to head coach.
When McAdoo and the rest of the staff were let go after the 2018 season, Sullivan spent that season with the Broncos as quarterbacks coach. But he was not retained by new head coach Vic Fangio in 2019 and spent the past season as the Director of Recruiting for football at West Point.
Sullivan is a West Point graduate and spent time as an Army Airborne Ranger. He has coached on two Super Bowl champion teams, both with the Giants.
Sullivan's hiring is the fourth made by Mike Tomlin this offseason. Previously, he elevated Canada to offensive coordinator to replace Randy Fichtner, while earlier this week, Adrian Klemm was elevated from assistant offensive line coach to replace offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett. Both Fichtner and Sarrett were not retained following the 2020 season.
Tomlin also hired former Chargers assistant Alfredo Roberts to coach tight ends. Longtime assistant James Daniel retired at the end of the 2020 season, creating that opening.
Tomlin has two remaining spots to be filled on his staff, defensive backs coach and assistant offensive line coach.