Ex-Pittsburgh WR Gets OC Interview, Are Steelers Next?

Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Ex-Pittsburgh WR Gets OC Interview, Are Steelers Next?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interviewing Lions wide receivers coach and former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El. While he has not interviewed yet for the Steelers job, it’s always possible that he could end up being next.

Randle-El, before switching to receiver, has a quarterback background. With that in mind, it makes a ton of sense why he not only got into coaching, but why he would have capabilities to flourish as an offensive coordinator. The Buccaneers lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers, who hired him as their head coach.

Randle El began his coaching career as an offensive assistant on Bruce Arians’ staff with the Buccaneers in 2019 and moved to the Lions when Dan Campbell became their head coach in 2021. Randle El was drafted by the Steelers in the second round out of Indiana in 2002. He’s a member of the Steelers’ 2005 Super Bowl-winning team. Randle El had a game-clinching 43-yard reverse touchdown pass to Hines Ward in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XL. He was the third non-quarterback and the first and only wide receiver in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers have set out some requirements for their offensive coordinator job, including that they would like to see someone with a quarterback background and experience come in to help their current personnel.

But they requested to interview Zac Robinson, now Falcons offensive coordinator, and have interviewed Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson for the job. So, it seems the Steelers are not fully sticking to that, though they would like to see someone like that.

Randle-El comes from the Ben Johnson train of thought with the Lions though, and his multiple scheme would work well with the Steelers. Pairing that with some of Arians’ passing attack could make for some interesting offensive decisions, and if Randle-El does land an interview, his vision for the scheme he runs is paramount.