:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72889083/1802716244.0.jpg)
The Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 home finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers could have significant playoff implications for both teams, and there’s been a coaching staff shake-up on the Steelers’ side that’s worth reporting.
Hugely unpopular offensive coordinator Matt Canada is now the former Steelers offensive coordinator. He was fired on Tuesday after Pittsburgh’s 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, which dropped them to 6-4, but an offense that poor undermines their top-10 defense and obviously threatens the entire season. You want to know how unprecedented this is in modern Steelers history? Dig this fun fact.
History today in Pittsburgh: When the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada today, it marked the first time they have made an in-season coaching change since 1941, per @PaulHembo.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 21, 2023
The last time the Steelers fired a head coach/coordinator midseason was 1941, when the… pic.twitter.com/hsi1T1AvdS
Canada was hired as Pittsburgh’s OC in 2021, so he’s presided for a retiring Ben Roethlisberger, a sprinkling of Mitch Trubisky starts, and two seasons of Kenny Pickett. Not a great hand to be dealt but even poor offenses can occasionally strike gold. Pittsburgh was not just awful under Canada, they were uniquely awful.
The Steelers offense went 45 straight games under Matt Canada without gaining at least 400 yards of offense.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) November 21, 2023
There have been 333 instances since 2021 where an offense gained at least 400 yards in a game.
But again, zero by the Steelers during that span.
Matt Canada spent 44 games as the Steelers OC. Under him, they produced:
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) November 21, 2023
0 games with 400+ yards
1 game with 300+ passing yards
2 games with 30+ points
7 games with 2+ passing TDs
27 games with 20 first downs or less
28 games with 20 points or less
Unbelievably bad. https://t.co/XDU4XndF43
While Canada is now unemployed, Pickett’s current starting job is in question. He currently has as many touchdown passes as Tommy DeVito and essentially no positive stats other than a couple of game-winning drives. Pickett is still the starter for now but it’s not inconceivable that the Seahawks are facing Mitch Trubisky come Week 17.
The headline is a little tongue-in-cheek but not totally baseless. Seattle’s defense has been reeling since losing Uchenna Nwosu and Pittsburgh is easily the worst offense left on the schedule. A change of OC (and maybe a change at QB?) could makes Pittsburgh a little more difficult to handle come Dec. 31.
Loading comments...