Steelers sign offensive coordinator Todd Haley through 2016 season

Almost from the moment he was hired, it seems as if Todd Haley was universally disliked in Pittsburgh.  After an unsuccessful run as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers hired Haley in 2012 to serve as the offensive coordinator.

From the get-go, Haley and incumbent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seemed to butt heads over the direction of the offense; Haley opting to orchestrate a strict West Coast style system while Roethlisberger had spent his entire career up until that point basically calling his own plays, as previous OC Bruce Arians allowed the franchise player free reign to conduct the offense.

In 2012 and 2013, the Steelers' offense was underwhelming, finishing 21st and 20th in yards per game in each season, respectively.  An ineffecitve running game in the years prior meant a short passing game was installed to substitute for the nonthreatening running game.  In 2013, some semblance of success was seen, as Antonio Brown broke out for 1,500 yards, Le'Veon Bell looked promising and Emmanuel Sanders became the most coveted free agent on the market.  In 2014, the offense finally broke out, as the Steelers had what was probably their best statistical offensive season in the history of the franchise, finishing second to the Saints in yards per game, missing the mark by just three-tenths of a yard per game.

During Haley's career, he'e had everyone from the fans (all of them) to Ben Roethlisberger (nonverbally) to Snoop Dogg (yes, seriously) calling for his resignation and begging the team install a new mind at offensive coordinator.  Well, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Haley was quietly resigned to a two-year contract extension that will retain his rights as a member of the coaching staff through the 2016 season.  The terms of the deal have not been disclosed as of yet, but if Bouchette's reporting is to be relied upon (and it should) the Steelers will likely announce Haley's extension in the coming days.

Haley's resigning is a good move for the Steelers, and a move that demonstrates their commitment to a dominate offensive force.  The skill of Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell is evident, but Haley is the play caller and the mind behind the offense, meaning the extraordinary numbers put up by the Steelers can be directly attributed back to his clipboard.

With the future of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau up in the air, it's encouraging to see the Pittsburgh front office ensure the coaching staff undergo as little turnover as possible.