Steelers parting ways with three coaches, including Randy Fichtner

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense was quite the oddity in 2020. Their passing numbers were above average, but their running game was the worst in the league. Literally the bottom of the barrel in both yards per game and yards per attempt.

Throughout the season it became evident there was a disconnect not only with the play calling, but also with situational football. The inability to thrive on third downs, and especially on third and short situations.

When all was said and done, it seemed as if all signs pointed at one person, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. Well, for fans who have been calling for the end of the Fichtner era for years, today is your day.

The Steelers announced Thursday they are parting ways with Fichtner, and two other coaches. The two other coaches were offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley.

The Steelers didn’t necessarily fire these coaches, but their contracts were simply not renewed. In other words, a nicer way of saying you are fired.

Randy Fitchner had been on the Steelers coaching staff since 2007 when Mike Tomlin was hired as the head coach. The wide receiver’s coach for three seasons, Fichtner took over as the quarterbacks coach in 2010. Promoted to the offensive coordinator in 2018 while still remaining the quarterbacks coach, Fichtner was relieved of his quarterback coaching duties for 2020 when the Steelers hired Matt Canada. The Steelers have been the only NFL team in which Fichtner has coached as he has plenty of collegiate stops including Memphis, Arkansas State, and Purdue.

Shaun Sarrett has been on the Steelers coaching staff since 2012. Officially an offensive assistant through the 2017 season, Sarrett was officially given the title of assistant offensive line coach in 2018. Working with the offensive line prior to the arrival of Mike Munchak, Sarrett took over the job when Munchak left for the Denver Broncos in 2019.

Tom Bradley joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as their Ddfensive backs coach in 2018. Bradly came from the college ranks where he had been the defensive coordinator at UCLA the previous three seasons. With a stop at West Virginia University in 2014 as the Associate Head Coach, Bradley had previously been the interim head coach at Penn State in 2011. Bradley began his coaching career in 1979 at Penn State and had coached the Nittany Lions through his time as the interim head coach in 2011. In 2019, the Steelers added Teryl Austin to their coaching staff as a Senior Defensive Assistant and Secondary Coach.

Stay tuned to Behind The Steel Curtain as the Steelers work to rebuild their coaching staff for the 2021 season.

For more on the breaking news surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers today, check out the Breaking News podcast below: