“First Call” for Thursday has an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator search. A quarterback draft candidate has an interest in Pittsburgh’s new head coach. The Penguins return home.
And we compare Pitt’s recent attendance restrictions at Acrisure Stadium with other moves by ACC schools.
Shopping in the same aisle
It appears that at least one other club has interest in landing a potential assistant on Mike McCarthy’s first coaching staff in Pittsburgh.
According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the New York Jets are speaking with Lunda Wells about their recently created vacancy at offensive coordinator.
The franchise just parted ways with Tanner Engstrand on Wednesday.
Another OC interview for Cowboys TE coach Lunda Wells, as he will meet with the Jets today. It’s his third OC interview this cycle, along with the Steelers and Commanders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2026
Wells is believed to be a candidate for an OC post in Washington as well as the one open here in Pittsburgh now that Arthur Smith has left for Ohio State.
Wells was on the Cowboys staff under McCarthy and stayed under Brian Schottenheimer. Prior to his arrival in Dallas, Wells had been a tight ends, assistant offensive line and quality control coach for the New York Giants from 2012-19.
At the college level, Wells had multiple jobs at LSU from 2008-11. Plus, he coached the West team to a 21-17 win in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Tuesday.
During his press conference on Tuesday, McCarthy stated that he plans on calling the plays on offense. So that’s one duty Wells wouldn’t have here.
Family ties
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier is an NFL draft prospect at the quarterback position. And he’s got some ties to the Steelers now that McCarthy is in charge.
Nussmeier’s father, Doug, is currently the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. He had been the Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach on McCarthy’s staff from 2020-22.
“I would love to go play for the Steelers. It’d be awesome to play for coach McCarthy,” Nussmeier said during a Senior Bowl media interview as posted by Behind The Steel Curtain.
LSU Garrett Nussmeier talks about his father's connection to new PIT head coach Mike McCarthy, says he would love to play for the Steelers #SeniorBowl @btsteelcurtain pic.twitter.com/XJ1ZJ2NTSI
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) January 28, 2026
Nussmeier passed on the draft in 2025 and went back to college. He played in nine games, completed 67% of his passes, threw 12 touchdowns and five interceptions for 1,927 yards.
Welcome back
The Penguins finally return to PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. They have been off since a win in Vancouver on Sunday. That victory closed out a four-game Western Conference road trip that saw the Pens go unbeaten.
TWO GOALS IN FRONT OF THE HOMETOWN CROWD FOR KINDY! ???? pic.twitter.com/8A8uH6Q8m9
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 26, 2026
Now they begin a three-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Ottawa Senators on Monday.
None of those teams currently holds a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Dan Muse’s Pens are one of the surprises of the league, currently tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division with the New York Islanders at 63 points apiece.
Carolina leads the Metro with 69 points.
As for Thursday’s opponent, Chicago comes to town limping. The Hawks have lost three in a row and seven of their past 10. They haven’t topped three goals since a 4-3 shootout win over Carolina on Jan. 22.
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Not alone
Pitt isn’t the only ACC school to reduce seating capacity in recent years.
It was announced Wednesday that the Panthers are dropping seating capacity at Acrisure Stadium from 68,400 to 51,416.
That will move Acrisure Stadium from the second-largest seating capacity in the ACC to 10th. Clemson’s Memorial Stadium (81,500) is the largest.
Other schools in the conference have made similar moves. However, those have been due to stadium renovations and reconstruction.
Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium had been at 79,560 as recently as 2023. But it’s been trimmed to 67,277. That was a result of stadium remodeling efforts that widened seats and aisles, added handrails and legroom in some sections.
The record football attendance for the JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) in Syracuse was 50,564 back in 1980. But since 2018, the building has had major renovations that include accessibility upgrades, improved restrooms and concession spaces.
Plus, benches were replaced by actual seats in 2022. Now, capacity for the Orange is listed anywhere between 42,784 and 49,057 for football.
With Pitt’s new changes, their attendance capacity will drop from second to 10th in the conference. When the Panthers left Pitt Stadium in Oakland, it was at 56,500.
