First Call: Falcons’ coaching hire could impact Steelers’ OC plans; ex-Steeler wants to join Mike Tomlin’s staff
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Friday’s “First Call” sees how some things falling elsewhere in NFL coaching circles may impact the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator hire.
A former Steeler may want to rejoin the team on the coaching staff. We examine the local college basketball scene this weekend, and the Penguins’ contest against Florida Friday night.
Ripple effect
A person the Steelers are considering for their new offensive coordinator may wind up with another coach who just got a new job in the NFC.
Former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is getting hired as the new head coach with the Atlanta Falcons. He also served as the Falcons’ interim head coach to finish out the 2020 season.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Zac Robinson is a potential offensive coordinator that Morris may hire to his new staff.
A strong candidate to be Raheem Morris's offensive coordinator is Rams pass game coordinator/QBs coach Zac Robinson, source says.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 25, 2024
Robinson worked with Morris in L.A. as the Rams passing game coordinator. The Steelers have reportedly requested to interview Robinson. However, no interview has taken place as of yet.
Atlanta finished 2023 at 7-10, third in the NFC South. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017. This is Morris’ second head-coaching chance. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach from 2009 to 2011.
Reuniting?
Might mouthy Mike Mitchell make a comeback to Pittsburgh?
The always verbose former Steelers defensive back has gotten into coaching since retiring. However his contract is not being renewed in Indianapolis.
In 2022, Mitchell was hired by the Colts as an assistant defensive backs coach. But he is not coming back in Indy for 2024.
Upon seeing a social media post about the prospect of a return to Pittsburgh on Mike Tomlin’s staff, Mitchell replied, “Would be an honor and an amazing opportunity.”
The Steelers do have an opening. They just lost assistant DBs coach Gerald Alexander to the Las Vegas Raiders. He’ll be the safeties coach there.
In 2018, Mitchell spent the final year of his NFL career with the Colts.
More sports
• Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. finalist for defensive rookie of the year; T.J. Watt DPOY finalist
• Penguins acquire forward Maxim Cajkovic from Wild
• Bill Cowher on AFC Championship Game losses: ‘It hurts more than losing the Super Bowl’
Full marks
You have to give full credit to Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner for having a sense of humor.
The former Arizona Cardinals quarterback saw a social media post recently, claiming that James Harrison’s 100-yard interception of him in Super Bowl XLIII was the single greatest play in Super Bowl history.
I agree. But based on Warner’s reply, he must not.
Kind of depends on who you ask!!!! https://t.co/FvVXc2fJgP
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 24, 2024
Well, Kurt, the only two people I can think of who may disagree are Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger. Would you like to hear their argument?
Be your best
If the Penguins want to get back on the winning track Friday night (7 p.m.), they are going to have to do it against one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
The Florida Panthers are in town. They have 62 points. That’s the second-best point total in the conference.
Florida has been streaky of late. They won nine in a row between Dec. 23-Jan. 11. Then they lost four in a row. Now they’ve won two straight.
This is the Panthers’ 48th game. Their 29 wins are second behind only the Boston Bruins (30). Florida won the first meeting against Pittsburgh on Dec. 8 by a 3-1 final score.
The Pens have lost four of five and two in a row.
On tap
The Pitt basketball team is in South Florida. They are getting set to play the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday (2:15 p.m.). ESPN analytics has the Hurricanes as a 72% favorite.
That said, the Panthers are on a two-game road winning streak. They are fresh off beating Duke and Georgia Tech back-to-back in road games. They are coming in at 12-7, 3-5 in ACC play. The Hurricanes are 13-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC. They just snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday with a 73-61 win over Notre Dame.
As for Duquesne, the men’s hoops team hosts Fordham at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The Dukes finally won an Atlantic 10 conference game on Tuesday after dropping five in a row, topping St. Bonaventure 54-50. Keith Dambrot’s team is now 10-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play. The Rams are 9-10, 3-3 in A-10 action.
Meanwhile, Robert Morris doesn’t play until Sunday. The Colonials are at Cleveland State at 1 p.m. RMU has won three in a row to improve to 4-5 in Horizon League competition. They are averaging 91 points per game over that span. One of those games went to overtime, another went to double OT.