Steelers extend RBs coach Eddie Faulkner's contract
The Steelers decided to keep running backs coach Eddie Faulkner and extend his contract. That’s according to Bleacher Report.
Faulkner served as the Steelers interim offensive coordinator late last year when the team terminated OC Matt Canada. It was not a given that Pittsburgh would bring him back, although the play of the running backs was a bright spot on the offense. Coach Mike Tomlin hired Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, to be the new offensive coordinator.
Faulkner has worked on Tomlin’s staff since 2019. He’s helped develop both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. They came to the Steelers from different parts of the football world. Harris was a first-round pick from Alabama in 2021. Pittsburgh signed Warren, from Oklahoma State, as an undrafted free agent.
Both had big years in 2023. Harris finally eclipsed 1,000 yards in the final game of the regular season as helped the Steelers beat Baltimore on the road. He’s strung together three straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards. Harris also won the Angry Run scepter as presented by NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt.
Meanwhile, Warren contributed 784 yards as he spelled Harris.
On Friday, the Steelers filled out their offensive coaches staff. The team announced the hiring of Tom Arth as quarterbacks coach; Zach Azzanni (wide receivers) and Mateo Kambui as an offensive assistant.
Arth worked the last two seasons on the Chargers passing game. Before jumping to the NFL, Arth worked in the college ranks as head coach of Akron, Tennessee at Chattanooga and John Carroll.
Azzanni spent last year as receivers coach with the Jets. He also worked with the receivers of the Broncos (2018-22 ) and Bears (2017). Prior to Chicago, he coached in the college ranks for 18 years.
Kambui spent last season as an offensive line assistant on Smith’s staff in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Steelers released three players, including quarterback Mitch Trubisky. This was an expected move. In addition, Mason Rudolph‘s contract has expired, leaving Kenny Pickett as the lone QB on the roster for 2024. That’s as of mid-February.
The Steelers also released offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin III. Okorafor was a third-round Steelers pick in 2018. The Steelers selected Harvin in the seventh round of the 2021 draft. The cuts are expected to free $13 million with the salary cap.