Canada to tutor the QBs

Ex-Pitt assistant relieves Fichtner

The Steelers hired former Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada to be their quarterbacks coach, giving them a full-time assistant at the most important position on the team.

The decision to hire a quarterbacks coach was made by team president Art Rooney II in agreement with coach Mike Tomlin.

“Mike and I both felt it was an opportunity we e had,” Rooney said on Wednesday. “It was good to add somebody to the staff to help with the young quarterbacks as well as help with the offensive stuff. We’re happy someone like Matt, who we knew from down the hall here and liked some of work he’s done. We’re happy to have him on board.”

Randy Fichtner has served as quarterbacks coach since 2010, but it became a dual role when he was named offensive coordinator before the 2018 season.

The job became more important this season when the Steelers had to use two quarterbacks who had never appeared in an NFL game — Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges — after Ben Roethlisberger was injured.

Canada was Pitt’s offensive coordinator in 2016 when the Panthers averaged 42 points per game. He left the following year to become offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at LSU.

“Part of it is finding someone who’s the right fit,” Rooney said. “Mike was comfortable knowing and seeing his work up close down the hall.”

Haden to Pro Bowl

Steelers cornerback Joe Haden is going to his third Pro Bowl, his first as a member of the Steelers.

Haden, who had been selected as an alternate, is replacing Baltimore cornerback Marcus Peters, who cannot play due to an injury.

Haden, who also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014, tied for the team lead with five interceptions last season. He’ll be joined by Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick in Orlando next week, site of this year’s Pro Bowl game.

Haden, 30, had one of his best seasons after signing a three-year contract in August that will take him through the 2021 season.