First Call: Kliff Kingsbury to ‘talk to’ Steelers about OC job; Mike Munchak perhaps interested in coaching again
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A well-known NFL media member has quarterback and coordinator ideas for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Steelers coach may want to get back in the game. And we get an update on Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb.
All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”
King on Kingsbury
According to longtime NFL writer Peter King, the Steelers have plans to speak with former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury about their vacant offensive coordinator position.
“Right now, he’s talked to the Bears, and he’s going to talk to the Steelers — interesting places,” King said Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan. “The Bears are a running team. The Steelers are a running team. … I’ll tell you this, if he gets one of these jobs, I guarantee you that that team will be a running team.”
Kingsbury is currently working as an offensive analyst at USC. He also spoke with Philadelphia, according to the NFL Network. Chicago ended up hiring Shane Waldron as coordinator.
“I would be very intrigued,” King said. “This is a guy who has tentacles into some of the most interesting and progressive quarterbacks to have played the game.”
King also made a recommendation in his “Football Morning In America” column that the Steelers interview San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak and Los Angeles Rams pass game specialist Jake Peetz. Peetz works with Zac Robinson on Sean McVay’s offensive staff in L.A. Robinson has also been reported as a candidate for the Steelers’ OC job.
Kubiak has been my choice for quite some time.
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Feeling DangeRuss?
Also, during that interview, King said to keep Russell Wilson in mind as an option at quarterback for the Steelers.
“I would not rule out Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh,” King said. “I think if Mike Tomlin had his way, he’d want a veteran quarterback.”
A nine-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks, Wilson’s two-year run in Denver has been a bust. He went to Denver on a five-year, $243 million contract. The Broncos shipped out two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant in March 2022.
Wilson went 11-19 as a starter there, was sacked 100 times, and benched by the end of the 2023 season to “preserve financial flexibility.”
If the Steelers do swing big for another team’s starter at quarterback, I’d prefer Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield or Justin Fields. Even though Wilson put up a 98 passer rating last season, he’d be coming to Pittsburgh on the downside of his career.
Checking on Chubb
The Cleveland Browns are holding out hope that Nick Chubb can make a comeback from the injury he suffered in Pittsburgh earlier this season. When that will be is unclear.
Previously, reports were that the Browns were aiming for a return by the star running back at some point in 2024. The team reiterated a stance that they hope to see him on the field during the ‘24 season after his second surgery in November.
Now the franchise seems to be merely talking about him back on the field in a Browns uniform, period. At least that was the tone from general manager Andrew Berry in this quote to WEWS.
#Browns Andrew Berry on Nick Chubb: "Nobody wants to see that carry in Pittsburgh be the last carry he has for the Cleveland Browns…we obviously will work to keep him with the team."
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) January 22, 2024
Theoretically, though, both eventualities could mean the same thing in the big picture, as Chubb is slated to be a free agent after 2024 ends. His cap hit this year is scheduled to be $15.85 million.
More from Munch?
Former Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak might want to get back into coaching. Specifically, he may want to go back to Tennessee to coach the Titans’ offensive line.
Munchak had been the head coach in Nashville from 2011-13 prior to his run as Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2014-18.
This word comes from Paul Kuharsky, who covers the Titans and former Titans offensive lineman Zach Piller. Kuharsky discussed the prospect on his website. Piller brought it up on The Zone, a sports radio station in Nashville.
Munchak left the Steelers to coach offensive linemen in Denver and be closer to his kids and grandchildren. The NFL Hall of Famer stepped away from coaching altogether after 2021 to have surgery on his knee.
But now, according to Kuharsky and Piller, Munchak would consider coaching again if the fit was right.
Could that fit be in Pittsburgh if not Tennessee? Unlikely, but possible, I suppose. I know Steelers fans would love that idea. But it depends on what a new offensive coordinator would want in an offensive line coach. Current offensive line coach Pat Meyer could be retained as well.