Steelers announce that running backs coach James Saxon will not return in 2019

In something of a surprise move, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they would not be renewing the contract of running backs James Saxon on Monday, making him the second coach to effectively be fired since the season ended.

Mike Tomlin released a short statement via the team’s official website officially confirming the decision.

“I have made the decision to not renew the contract for running backs coach James Saxon. We would like to thank James for his efforts over the past five years, and we wish him the best in his future coaching endeavors.”

Of all of the issues Pittsburgh have struggled with as of late, the running back position has not been one of them and it would be fair to say the players under Saxon’s charge have generally flourished since he joined the Steelers in 2014.

With a key hand in the development of Le’Veon Bell, Roosevelt Nix, James Conner and Jaylen Samuels, it is hard to criticize his results from outside the organization, but clearly the team wants to go in a different direction.

After Joey Porter was let go in similar fashion on Friday, Pittsburgh might not yet be done with the changes this offseason and those hoping that Keith Butler will also be shown the door might still get their wish.