Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are considering adding former NFL offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton as an offensive assistant, according to Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh. Farabaugh described Hamilton as an “acclaimed QB guru” and suggested that his scheme could benefit Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett’s development. Hamilton has a track record of success, having coached Davis Mills during his time with the Houston Texans in 2022 and helping Justin Herbert win the Rookie of the Year award as the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. Additionally, Hamilton served as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2013 to 2015. The Steelers, who have one of the smaller coaching staffs in the NFL, may add more assistants to support Pickett and align with the team’s philosophy. However, it is unlikely that there will be a complete overhaul of the coaching staff.
SI.com’s All Steelers’ Noah Strackbein reported on February 3 that the Steelers were planning to interview three candidates for a potential offensive assistant role. Hamilton was not one of the three candidates on Strackbein’s list, but the Steelers have interviewed him previously.
Before promoting Matt Canada from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, the Steelers interviewed Hamilton for the job in 2021.
Farabaugh argued that Hamilton makes even more sense for Pittsburgh in 2024 because of how he would fit with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“It could see Hamilton come to Pittsburgh to help work with Smith’s motion, condensed formations, and play action-heavy attack,” Farabaugh wrote. “If there is one thing that Hamilton could help with though, it would be creating traffic in a dropback passing game, especially from shogun looks.
“Smith lacks that one thing and someone like Hamilton could bring the quarterback familiarity and that shotgun passing game with it as a candidate.”
The Steelers officially announced hiring Smith as their new offensive coordinator on February 2. Smith served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23.
If Strackbein gets what he wants, the Steelers will also add another former head coach to the defensive coaching staff.
Strackbein and his All Steelers Talk co-host Stephen Thompson both argued for the Steelers to hire Mike Vrabel as a senior defensive assistant.
“Art Rooney makes a billion dollars a year,” Strackbein said on February 2. “Go sign Mike Vrabel.”
The Steelers have a bit of a track record of creating an additional defensive coaching position for former NFL head coaches that don’t land new head coaching gigs. In 2022, the Steelers hired Brian Flores after his messy divorcee from the Miami Dolphins resulted in him receiving no coaching offers that offseason.
Vrabel had far more success as a head coach than either Flores or Smith. But Vrabel did not land another head coaching job and hasn’t been received much attention as a defensive coordinator candidate this offseason.
The big roles on Pittsburgh’s coaching staff are filled. But clearly, Steelers media hasn’t ruled out the team making at least one more splash during this hiring cycle.
Dave Holcomb
