ALTOONA, Pa. -- The Steelers can cross off at least one name from their search for an offensive line coach search as Chris Morgan was hired by the Bears for the same position Wednesday afternoon.
Morgan began the 2021 season as the Steelers assistant offensive line coach and ended the season as the interim offensive line coach after Adrian Klemm departed for a position at the University of Oregon.
It would be his only season with the Steelers as he led the offensive line for the final three games of the season which included games against the Browns, Ravens and the playoff matchup against the Chiefs.
From 2015-20, Morgan was the offensive line coach for the Falcons as well as the the running game coordinator in 2018. During the 2016 season, Morgan's offensive line helped pave the way for an offense that led the NFL in scoring with 33.8 points per game as well as a franchise-record 540 points en route to a birth in the Super Bowl.
His hiring by the Bears makes it all but certain he was not asked back by Mike Tomlin and the Steelers after his brief promotion. Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert will look to fill the vacant offensive line position in the coming weeks and a potential name to consider would be that of one Mike Munchak who was let go by the Broncos this week.
The Steelers will be on their fifth offensive line coach since January of 2019 with their next hire. Since Munchak left to work for Denver following the 2018, the play of group has deteriorated and the coaching has been a revolving door over the past two seasons.
A lot of those issues up front were due in large part to the age of the linemen inherited by former coach Shaun Sarrett who took over after Munchak's departure. Klemm took over after Sarrett was fired following the 2020 season.
Under Klemm and Morgan, the Steelers started two rookies in left tackle Dan Moore, Jr. and center Kendrick Green as well as a second-year player in left guard Kevin Dotson start up front this season. As a result it led to the offense allowing 38 sacks, the most in eight seasons and the running game never truly being established finishing No. 29 in the league in both rushing yards per game (93.1) and attempts (3.9).
While it remains to be seen how Tomlin replaces Morgan and fills the position, it's clear the move will be made with someone coming in from outside the organization for the first time since hiring Munchak in 2014.
