The Steelers' season ended one week ago, and Matt Canada is still employed as the team's offensive coordinator.
However, that might not mean his job is still 100 percent safe.
The last time the Steelers did not welcome back an offensive coordinator, Randy Fichtner was notified of it four days after the season concluded. For those who might not recall, the loss to the Browns in the 2020 wild card round was the final game of Fichtner's tenure.
So, here we are, six days removed from Mike Tomlin's end-of-season press conference with no word on whether or not Canada will be permitted to coach in the third and final year of his contract. So, that probably means that Canada is returning, right?
Well, it's not that simple.
During his end-of-season press conference last Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Tomlin was asked outright how he might evaluate Canada's performance and if he expects him to be back in 2023.
"I thought he got better, just like our team got better. I'm not going to speculate about him or anyone as I stand here today," Tomlin replied. "Just as I mentioned, we fight, and that fight has come to an end. I'm just beginning the process of transitioning in terms of wrapping a bow around it and looking and seeing what 2023 looks like. I'm just not there. We've got some work to do. But largely, I thought he got better in the ways that we got better, so it was encouraging."
Forget the "encouraging" remarks for just a second. Remember, Canada is under contract for 2023. Neither Tomlin nor anyone on the Steelers have to answer questions about anyone's future if they are already under contract. In fact, I would expect Tomlin to respond to that question as he did when he was asked about next season's quarterback situation behind Kenny Pickett.
"Mitch [Trubisky] is under contract. [Mason] Rudolph is scheduled for free agency," Tomlin said. "We'll see what happens."
Tomlin going far enough to tell the media that he's not going to stand in front of them and speculate about somebody's job when they are already under contract already tells you that he at least went into this process thinking about letting Canada go.
If that's the case, why hasn't he done it already?
Gathering from what Tomlin said regarding the process, along with everything else I've heard from the South Side, last week concentrated on exit interviews and exit physicals with players. As Tomlin said, "I'll always put the players in front of the staffing in terms of meetings and evaluations."
"We'll proceed methodically through this," Tomlin added. "We'll probably move a little slower than most of our peers, but we don't worry about the Joneses. We've got a business model, one that we believe in, and we'll be thorough in doing so and in assessing what transpired in an effort to tee up our next opportunity, and at the appropriate time we'll start work in that area."
The Steelers are definitely moving slower than other teams throughout this process. The Titans and Commanders have already fired their offensive coordinators, and the Jets and Rams have mutually parted ways with theirs. Then, after the wild card round, the Chargers and Buccaneers fired their offensive coordinators.
Meanwhile, interviews for coaching positions are already well underway. Brian Flores, Pittsburgh's senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, has already interviewed for the Browns' defensive-coordinator position and the Cardinals have requested to interview him for their head-coaching vacancy.
Typically when a head coach is about to fire someone on his staff, it's done quickly to afford the coach the best opportunity to find a job elsewhere. It's also important to note that Tomlin has the utmost respect for the coaching fraternity. And, Tomlin will do everything in his power to prevent any leaks of inside information regarding which way he might be leaning.
As slow as the Steelers are moving throughout their process, this is still a different situation than Tomlin has faced before. Bruce Arians, Todd Haley and Randy Fichtner all were told their contracts would not be renewed at the conclusion of seasons in which the Steelers made the playoffs (2011, 2017 and 2020, respectively). If Tomlin is truly considering firing Canada, not only would it be the first time Tomlin fired a coordinator, it would also be the first time he's parting ways with an offensive coordinator after a season where the Steelers didn't make the playoffs.
Trying to balance player exit interviews, how to properly shape the 2023 coaching staff and also afford Canada the opportunity to land a job if he is fired -- this isn't an easy task. Tomlin is working through all of this while judging the 2022 season in totality, not just the dreadful 2-6 start or promising 7-2 finish. That means knee-jerk reactions can't be made regarding the 2023 coaching staff.
However, with most or all of the exit interviews wrapped up, any final decision on Canada's fate will likely be made in the next couple of days. If there is no word about Canada being fired by the middle of the week, he'll most likely remain the offensive coordinator in 2023.
