NFL Assistant Coach Sends Message To Steelers.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers lost assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly suggested that the Steelers contact Mike Mitchell. Mitchell has spent the last two seasons as the Indianapolis Colts’ assistant defensive backs coach.
Mitchell would likely be interested in coaching in Pittsburgh.
Mitchell responded to Kaboly’s tweet, saying, “Would be an honor and an amazing opportunity.”
Mitchell’s first NFL coaching job came with the Colts in 2022. However, The Indianapolis Star’s Joel A. Erickson stated on January 24 that Mitchell’s contract with the team has expired, and the team does not intend to renew it in 2024.
Mitchell played safety with the Steelers from 2014 to 2017. In four seasons, he made 281 cumulative tackles, including one for loss. Mitchell also has 23 pass defenses and four interceptions.
Is Mike Mitchell a candidate to join the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive staff?
Mitchell returning to Pittsburgh as an assistant coach is an intriguing prospect. Joey Porter Sr., who played for Bill Cowher, later worked as a defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach for Mike Tomlin from 2014 to 2018.
Mitchell would accomplish the same accomplishment, playing and coaching for the Steelers, if he served as Pittsburgh’s defensive backs coach.
The Steelers signed Mitchell to a five-year, $25 million contract before the 2014 season. He played four seasons in Pittsburgh, helping the Steelers win three division titles and reach the AFC championship game in 2016-17.
Mitchell began his career as a second-round pick by the Oakland Raiders. After four seasons with the Raiders, Mitchell had a great year with the Carolina Panthers in 2013.
He had 66 total tackles, 4 sacks, and 4 interceptions the season before getting a huge contract with the Steelers.
Indianapolis. Four years later, Reich added Mitchell to the Colts’ coaching staff.
Mitchell had 514 total tackles in 10 NFL seasons, including 13 for loss, 7.5 sacks, 42 pass defenses, and 11 interceptions.
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Search
The Steelers could eventually focus on Mitchell. However, the organization’s current focus is most likely on offensive coordinator candidates.
Zac Robinson, one of the candidates the Steelers sought to meet, has decided to join the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching staff as offensive coordinator.
The Steelers now have two remaining candidates: Thomas Brown and Jerrod Johnson.
Brown worked as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator last season. Prior to that, he worked as Sean McVay’s assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. Brown coached the Rams’ running backs from 2020 to 2021, then the team’s tight ends in 2022.
Johnson has never served as an offensive coordinator, but his name, like Robinson’s, is circulating in NFL coaching rumors. Johnson tutored the Houston Texans’ quarterbacks in 2023.
The Steelers could explore additional candidates, but aside from Robinson, those two coaches are the only ones the team has openly showed interest in for its offensive coordinator position.
Johnson previously served as the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022. He also worked as an offensive quality control coach for the Colts from 2020 to 2021.
Other possibilities for the position include Klint Kubiak, the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, and former NFL head coaches Kliff Kingsbury and Arthur Smith.
This offseason, NFL analysts have floated all three names as possible Steelers targets.
