Fichtner takes over for Haley
coordinator.
Haley was not offered a new contract after serving six seasons as offensive coordinator.
“I want to thank [c]oach Tomlin and Art Rooney II for giving me the opportunity to be the offensive coordinator for this organization,” Fichtner said in a statement released by the team. “We have a tremendous roster and it will be my charge to continue putting our offensive players in position to succeed and score points. We have the nucleus to be successful and I am thrilled about the chance to lead the offense.”
This is Fichtner’s first opportunity as a coordinator in the NFL. He previously was a coordinator at Arkansas State University (1997-2000) — curiously, his wide receivers coach for one season was Tomlin — and at Memphis (2001-06).
His appointment means both Steelers coordinators — Fichtner and Keith Butler — had Tomlin as one of their assistants when they were coordinators in college. Butler was defensive coordinator at Arkansas State in 1998 when Tomlin switched from receivers coach under Fichtner to defensive backs coach.
Fichtner takes over an offense that finished third in the NFL in total yards in 2017 and produced six All-Pro or Pro Bowl players — quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown, running back Le’Veon Bell, center Maurkice Pouncey, guard David DeCastro and tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Before serving as the Steelers quarterback coach, he coached the wide receivers for three seasons. In his eight seasons working with Roethlisberger, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback threw for 31,763 yards and 202 touchdowns with a passer rating of 95.4, all of which rank in the top 10 in the league.
Fichtner’s dad, Ross, was a quarterback at McKeesport High School before going on to a nine-year career as a safety in the NFL. — Gerry Dulac