Super Bowl Winning Coordinator Steelers’ Top Choice for OC Opening: Analyst

Super Bowl-winning coordinator picks Steelers to open OC: Analyst

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers media have named 25 potential candidates for the team’s open offensive coordinator role. Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora whittled the list down to five. He also named the three most likely candidates for the position. Topping the list were the Miami Dolphins with running backs and running backs coach Darrell Bevell. “[The Steelers] value Bevell’s extensive coaching experience, his first/balanced approach and his work with the Dolphins this year bringing some of those ideas to the Steelers,” Kozora wrote.

Bevell began his NFL coaching career in 2000. He served as the league’s offensive coordinator for 15 seasons.

He won the Super Bowl in 2013 as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Kozora made Bevell the first of the most logical offensive coordinators for the Steelers, based on the qualifications coach Mike Tomlin presented in his Jan. 18 postseason press conference.

After Bevell, Kozora edged out Alex Van Pelt and Pep Hamilton for second and third, respectively. How does Darrell Bevell fit in to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next offensive coordinator?

Tomlin has made it clear that he wants the team’s next offensive coordinator to come from outside the organization with previous experience in that role and success working with quarterbacks.

Bevell checks all the boxes and then some. Over 23 NFL seasons, Bevell served as the offensive coordinator for four teams. He has worked with several quarterbacks such as Brett Favre, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa. Bevell and Tomlin have worked together before. Bevell served as the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2006, while Tomlin served as the team’s defensive coordinator for one season. Last season, the Dolphins ranked first in passing yards and fourth in passing yards with Bevell serving as the team’s passing game coordinator.

When Bevell called plays, his philosophy was consistent with what the Steelers have typically done throughout their history. That means building a running game to set up passes. “He’s also a West Coast coach, but prefers the big plays in the passing game over the roots of the scheme,” Kozora wrote. “His attack is mostly balanced, but he is more power-oriented and likes to be in the middle, so his experience in the WCO is paramount. “On paper, it’s everything the team is looking for.”

The Seahawks ranked in the top five in rushing with four under Bevel as offensive coordinator.

Steelers request interview with Jack Robinson from Rams for OC opening.

But hiring Bevell comes with risks. He remained an offensive assistant for nearly two decades as he enjoyed inconsistent success.

Even after leading the Seahawks offense through two Super Bowl appearances, he was never considered for a head coaching role. The Seahawks fired him after the 2017 season.

It’s far from a foregone conclusion that the Steelers will hire Bevell. The Steelers are considering other candidates to begin their search.

Senior NFL reporter Albert Breer reported on Jan. 22 that the Steelers have requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zach Robinson for the offensive coordinator opening. Robinson spent the last five years on the Rams’ coaching staff under Sean McVay. Hiring McVay assistants is the latest trend in the NFL. Robinson never called offensive plays. But, as was the case with Tomlin 17 years ago, your resume may not count if you land an interview.