First Call: A free-agent CB may remain in Pittsburgh; other NFL hires may impact Steelers' OC search

Tuesday’s “First Call” features some speculation about the future of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Levi Wallace. We have some NFL coaching and front-office news with Steelers connections.

And in local college hoops news, both Pitt and Duquesne are in action.

Still liking Levi?

According to at least one national post, one of the Steelers veteran defensive backs may be getting a contract extension.

ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler says the team could be interested in bringing back cornerback Levi Wallace. The 28-year-old just finished a two-year, $8 million commitment in Pittsburgh.

“The Steelers’ free agency class is not star-studded, but Wallace has been a solid starter over two years in Pittsburgh, producing six interceptions and 12 pass breakups since 2022. I could see him staying there on another two-year deal closer to free agency,” Fowler wrote.

Eh, maybe. If he is willing to stay at another low rate, he could be a useful depth piece. But the Steelers should be looking to upgrade in the secondary, not maintain the status quo.

Via the draft or free agency, I think Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan should be looking for at least one starting-caliber safety and another starting-caliber corner opposite Joey Porter Jr. That way, they can keep Wallace as a backup and maybe then move Patrick Peterson to a third safety spot.

Ripple effect?

One of the Steelers’ division rivals is losing its offensive coordinator.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the Tennessee Titans are hiring Cincinnati OC Brian Callahan to be their new head coach.

Titans are working to finalize a deal to hire Bengals' offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their next head coach, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/HLbhYZUFPj

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 23, 2024

If Callahan formally accepts the job, he’d be replacing Mike Vrabel, who held that post in Nashville for six years.

Steelers’ OC candidate Zac Robinson could wind up in the running for Callahan’s job in Cincy as well. After all, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had been the quarterbacks coach in Los Angeles with the Rams under Sean McVay. Robinson has been on McVay’s staff for five years. He’s been the passing game coordinator for two seasons.

However, NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport suggests that the Bengals may also have an in-house candidate in QB coach Dan Pritcher.

More sports

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• Source: Pirates sign 35-year-old reliever Aroldis Chapman
• Jeff Capel wants Pitt to put Duke victory in rear-view mirror, look ahead to Georgia Tech

Not this time

Former Steelers front office member Samir Suleiman didn’t get the general manager job with the Carolina Panthers. Former Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan took the gig instead. The team made that announcement Monday.

Suleiman was the football administration coordinator in Pittsburgh prior to 2020. That’s when he was hired by the Panthers to be the franchise’s director of player negotiations and salary cap management.

Suleiman was an internal candidate to replace Scott Fitterer, who was fired after the season ended. Morgan was also on that list, which included at least 10 external candidates. The University of Miami grad had been the franchise’s assistant general manager.

The Panthers are owned by former Steelers minority owner David Tepper. Carolina finished an NFL-worst 2-14.

After Suleiman went to Carolina, Pittsburgh replaced him with Cole Marcoux. At one time, Suleiman was perceived to be a replacement for Omar Khan whenever Khan got promoted or left for another team. Khan eventually took over for Kevin Colbert as general manager in Pittsburgh when he retired following the 2022 draft.

What’s the buzz?

After a huge win at then No. 7 Duke, the Pitt Panthers (11-7) are looking to refocus Tuesday night. They visit Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets are struggling at 9-9. They have won just one game since Dec. 22. That was a 93-90 double-overtime victory over Clemson last Tuesday.

Ga. Tech yields 75.2 points per game. That’s 14th in the 15-team ACC. Only Louisville is worse at 77.8. Their 73.6 points per game average on offense is 12th.

However, the Jackets are the third-best rebounding team in the league, at 38.9 boards per game. That’s just one spot behind second-place Pitt (39.7).

Both teams are 2-5 in ACC action. The Panthers swept the series last year, winning Game 1 by a final score of 76-68 and Game 2 by a score of 89-81.

Hoping to break through

The Duquesne men’s basketball team (9-8, 0-5) returns to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. The Dukes take on St. Bonaventure (11-6, 2-3) at 7 p.m.

Keith Dambrot’s club is still looking for its first conference win in Atlantic 10 play. They are winless in their first five tries. Duquesne lost by two points on the last defensive possession of each of their past two games.

The first was a 63-61 defeat at home against Richmond last Tuesday. Then they dropped a 71-69 decision at St. Joseph’s.

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Dji Bailey gives the Spiders their first lead of the second half with 13.8 seconds to play.

It's the @orthovirginia play of the game at Duquesne. @thed4show | #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/OV4YkCZSS9

— Richmond Basketball (@SpiderMBB) January 18, 2024

CAMERON BROWN. GAME WINNER. #THWND pic.twitter.com/qHoJjRpcQB

— SJU Hawks MBB (@SJUHawks_MBB) January 20, 2024

Duquesne has been dealing with the absence of Dae Dae Grant. He missed both of those games with a concussion.

The Bonnies, led by former Robert Morris head coach Mark Schmidt, lost their most recent game at George Mason 69-60.

St. Bonaventure leads the all-time series 70-61. The teams split a pair of meetings last year.