Fichtner due to follow Haley as OC

Team source says move will happen once contract details are approved

The Steelers are prepared to name Randy Fichtner as Todd Haley’s replacement at offensive coordinator, pending final approval of his contract, a team source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The decision to name Fichtner, an original member of Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff, will help maintain stability with one of the top offenses in the NFL.

Fichtner and offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who has declined a second interview with the Arizona Cardinals to remain with the Steelers, were considered the top internal candidates to replace Haley. Neither has been a coordinator in the NFL.

Since Bill Cowher became head coach in 1992, the Steelers have hired four of their previous seven offensive coordinators from within the organization, including the three previous to Haley — Mike Mularkey (2001-03), Ken Whisenhunt (2004-06) and Bruce Arians (2007-11). All three went on to become NFL head coaches.

Fichtner would make it five of the past eight. He has been with the Steelers since Tomlin became coach in 2007, serving the past eight years as quarterback coach.

The only time he was a coordinator was in 1997-2000 at Arkansas State University, where his wide receivers coach was Tomlin; and from 2001-06 at Memphis.

Fichtner also has a nice relationship with Ben Roethlisberger, who wanted him on the sidelines and not in the coaches box this season to serve as a buffer to Haley.

Munchak was a “serious” candidate to replace Arians as head coach but wanted to remain with the Steelers for several reasons beyond a possible promotion to coordinator.

“I made the decision to withdraw my name from the Arizona Cardinals head coaching search as they continue through their interview process. The timing for my family was not appropriate for me to pursue this potential opportunity, but I am very excited with the decision to remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Munchak said in a statement.

Munchak, who has been with the Steelers since 2014, previously was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2011-13. He was the offensive line coach with the Titans; before that, he had a Hall of Fame playing career.

Munchak has overseen the development of one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. He has coached two All-Pros in center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro and developed Alejandro Villanueva, a converted defensive lineman, into a starting left tackle.

Under Munchak’s watch, the Steelers have kept Roethlisberger well-protected. The Steelers have allowed just 45 sacks over the past two seasons, including 24 this past season.

It’s official: Mann retires

Wide receivers coach Richard Mann, an Aliquippa native, officially retired Wednesday after 33 seasons in the NFL, including five with the Steelers. Tomlin coached and won a Super Bowl with Mann when both men were assistants for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Mann coached with six other NFL teams in his long career that began in the early 1980s.