Pittsburgh Steelers fans and any appreciator of good professional football have called for Matt Canada’s job since at least last season, if not before.
I once labeled the perpetual stubbornness of Mike Tomlin as “the epitome of prideful rigidity.” Best part? That was in reference to Tomlin refusing to play first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett over Mitchell Trubisky, and it alluded to how Tomlin wouldn’t change offensive play-callers. That’s right. Reporters were already inquiring about moving off Canada last September.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023, will be one of the most celebrated dates in the past decade of the Steelers’ existence. Matt Canada is gone. Great fact by Schefty to accompany the news; short statement by Tomlin; pack your bags, Canada, you’re GONE.
Matt Canada’s time in PIT is over… pic.twitter.com/rKk1W7SVHa
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) November 21, 2023
Matt Canada has been relieved of his duties? Trust me Mike, nobody is more relieved that this man is gone than any given Steelers fan.
They’ve watched Pickett’s development go up in flames because of Canada’s antiquated, awful scheme and game plans. Mike Sullivan will take over play-calling duties in the meantime.
#Steelers QB coach Mike Sullivan takes over as the team’s new offensive play caller. Sullivan and Kenny Pickett have a strong relationship. RB coach Eddie Faulkner will have a big role in game planning and on game days but Sullivan’s voice will be the one in Pickett’s helmet. https://t.co/b12ct9Uvf2 pic.twitter.com/SrbE5s7UhT
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 21, 2023
From @gmfb: Mike Tomlin almost never makes in-season staff changes. But with the #Steelers all-in on QB Kenny Pickett and the offense struggling, Matt Canada is out as OC. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/zDZnaeobz5
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 21, 2023
Don’t know much about Sullivan other than skimming over his relevant coaching experience (OC in Tampa Bay from 2012-13, OC for the Giants from 2016-17). He can’t possibly be worse than Canada.
Imagine how amazing the players must feel right now. The defense in particular must be saying, “WOW. At least we have a chance now that we won’t be carrying Kenny P every game!”
It’s too funny that the last Steelers coach to be fired in-season was the co-owner, who fired himself. What a man of integrity, that Bert Bell. He only had a 0-2 record in 1941 when he let stepped down as head coach. Bell went on to be NFL commissioner from 1946 to 1959.
Anyway, let’s not stray too far from Canada. Yesterday I underscored just how historically bad Kenny Pickett has been under Canada’s watch. We’ll find out soon enough whether this eyesore of an offense had Canada or Pickett to blame more for its shortcomings.
Matt Canada spent 44 games as the Steelers OC. Under him, they produced:
0 games with 400+ yards
1 game with 300+ passing yards
2 games with 30+ points
7 games with 2+ passing TDs
27 games with 20 first downs or less
28 games with 20 points or lessUnbelievably bad. https://t.co/XDU4XndF43
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) November 21, 2023
the Matt Canada Steelers offense was a travesty
Kenny Pickett passing yards the last 4 weeks:
73 yds
160yds
126 yds
106 ydsfirst non-rookie QB since Christian Ponder in 2012 to throw for no more than 160 yds in 4 straight games despite 50+ total comphttps://t.co/zwnOSlSqlt
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 21, 2023
How about we check in to see how the fired Pittsburgh offensive coordinator is faring on social media. Anyone out there sad to see him go? I’ll try to find one person. I don’t think I will.
The highlight of the Matt Canada era is Chris Boswell letting him know it wasn’t him 😂 pic.twitter.com/PWstOx3JKk
— Jesse Moeller (@JMoeller05) November 21, 2023
THE MATT CANADA LEGACY
– Had one year at Pitt with Nathan Peterman
– Failed miserably at LSU
– Failed miserably at Maryland
– Somehow failed upwards
– An offense that harkens back to the days of middle school football
– Refusing to utilize the middle of the field
– Refusing to…— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) November 21, 2023
Matt Canada fired? pic.twitter.com/hkoFBQz9ZI
— Tyler (@TKSupertramp) November 21, 2023
Matt Canada has been fired!!!! pic.twitter.com/jYyC5bvxNT
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) November 21, 2023
Steelers players talking freely to the media about Matt Canada now that he’s gone pic.twitter.com/eNpYccW5PM
— STEELHERE (@_STEELHERE) November 21, 2023
The entire Steelers offense after learning Matt Canada got fired pic.twitter.com/JIFaADGdi9
— Justin (@Justin_14P) November 21, 2023
“i can’t waste another sunday watching this abysmal steelers offense”
steelers: we have fired matt canada pic.twitter.com/vJ4GvTbpt4
— ego (@notmalkinego) November 21, 2023
THE STEELERS FIRED MATT CANADA!!!!!!
pic.twitter.com/YZDr02gilP— Teddy Brewski🍻 (@Buzz_FlightYear) November 21, 2023
Steelers in their first half of football without Matt Canada pic.twitter.com/UR6ZSgzypY
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 21, 2023
Steelers fans when they find out Matt Canada got fired pic.twitter.com/Fue7R1WUau
— Cam 🇨🇦💚 (@TheCamMoore) November 21, 2023
Kenny wanted Matt Canada fired so badly he was out there throwing to ghosts
pic.twitter.com/KjGc4kWzDM— Trash Talk NFL (@TrashTalkNFL) November 21, 2023
Steelers fans hearing the news of the OC Matt Canada getting fired… pic.twitter.com/x8QDVY8PXU
— Van (@vanman_1000) November 21, 2023
Again, we’ll see what Kenny Pickett has in store for us with somebody new in his ear calling the shots. Everything the Steelers want to achieve is in front of them. They have a 6-4 record. Pretty doable schedule during the stretch run. Pittsburgh won’t face an opponent with a current winning record in its next five games.
The thought of Kenny P. playing in the postseason is mortifying if he doesn’t improve drastically. He can’t regress any further at least, right?
…Right?
315 QBs have 500 pass attempts since the merger
Only one has thrown a touchdown on fewer than 2% of his attempts
Kenny Pickett (1.9%) pic.twitter.com/TOxFF6Bqlp
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 19, 2023
