![\"NFL](\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/.image\/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200\/MjAzMzU4MTUzNjc1Mzg0Mzk5\/mike-tomlin.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Pittsburgh Steelers have been connected to lots of different quarterbacks through potential trades, free agency and the draft early this offseason. That\u2019s to be expected based on the team\u2019s production at quarterback in 2023. But more surprisingly, the media has also linked the Steelers to numerous assistant coaches in staff rumors, including Eric Bieniemy.<\/p>\n
Steelers Now\u2019s Alan Saunders argued on February 5 that Bieniemy appears to be the best possible candidate to be Pittsburgh\u2019s new pass game coordinator.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOnce considered the top of the crop of NFL offensive coordinators and a sure-fire head coach prospect, Bieniemy\u2019s star has lost some of its shine after a middling season with the Washington Commanders,\u201d wrote Saunders.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he certainly has the passing game expertise to help Arthur Smith develop a more-potent unit on that side of the ball. After a lot of talk about the Steelers mining the coaching tree of Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay, why not go for a former assistant of the guy that\u2019s in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years \u2014 especially one with a link to Mike Tomlin?\u201d<\/p>\n
Saunders argued for the Steelers to consider Bieniemy two days after SI.com\u2019s All Steelers\u2019 Noah Strackbein reported that the Steelers were planning to interview candidates for a new offensive assistant role on the team\u2019s coaching staff.<\/p>\n
Should the Steelers Hire Eric Bieniemy as Pass Game Coordinator?<\/strong> on February 3 that the Steelers were interviewing Tom Arth, Charles London and Zach Azzani for its offensive coaching staff.<\/p>\n Arth and London had passing game coordinator in their 2023 titles with the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans, respectively. Azzani served as New York Jets wide receivers coach in 2023.<\/p>\n It\u2019s difficult to argue, though, with Saunders\u2019 suggestion that Bieniemy is a better candidate for Pittsburgh than any of those three coaches.<\/p>\n Under Bieniemy, the Washington Commanders finished 24th in total yards and 25th in points scored during. But Bieniemy was far more successful with the Kansas City Chiefs.<\/p>\n As Chiefs offensive coordinator, Bieniemy led Kansas City to top 6 finishes in yards and points each year from 2018-22.<\/p>\n It obviously helped that Bieniemy had Patrick Mahomes at quarterback in Kansas City. Head coach Andy Reid also called plays.<\/p>\n But Bieniemy\u2019s influence with the Chiefs could be of great use to a Steelers offense looking to make a significant jump with its passing game in 2024.<\/p>\n Bieniemy has 16 years of NFL coaching experience. He spent 10 of those seasons as an assistant on Reid\u2019s staff in Kansas City.<\/p>\n Bieniemy was the Chiefs running backs coach from 2013-17 before becoming offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n Other Assistants the Steelers Could Consider<\/strong> Saunders isn\u2019t the first to float the Steelers as a landing spot for either coach. Steelers Depot\u2019s Joe Clark and AtoZ Sports\u2019 Rob Gregson both connected Ward to the Steelers after The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette\u2019s Gerry Dulac reported on February 5 that the team was not retaining wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson.<\/p>\n \u201cOne name on the market that will surely be linked to Pittsburgh is former Steelers wideout Hines Ward, who was replaced as head coach of the UFL\u2019s San Antonio Brahmas and was an offensive intern with the Steelers in 2017,\u201d Clark wrote. \u201cHe also served as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets and wide receivers coach at FAU.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Strackbein and Stephen Thompson of All Steelers Talk argued for the Steelers to hire Mike Vrabel on February 2.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty one-way street there. If Mike Vrabel wants to come, the Steelers should want him to come,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how much an assistant like that would get paid or anything.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think you almost write him a blank check and say, \u2018Yeah, we\u2019d love to have you here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Furthermore, on February 4, Steelers Now\u2019s Nick Farabaugh argued that the Steelers should consider hiring Pep Hamilton.<\/p>\n Clearly, there\u2019s no shortage of coaches the media considers a candidate for Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n Steelers Depot\u2019s official X (formerly Twitter) account made a joke about that fact on February 5.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, it seems like the consensus is that the Steelers should have a 53-man coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n So, it seems like the consensus is that the Steelers should have a 53-man coaching staff. #Steelers<\/a> #NFL<\/a><\/p>\n — Steelers Depot 7\u20e3 (@Steelersdepot) February 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nStrackbein reported<\/p>\n
\nSaunders didn\u2019t stop at Bieniemy. He also suggested Hines Ward for the team\u2019s open wide receiver position and Mike Vrabel for a senior defensive assistant role.<\/p>\n\n