Pittsburgh Steelers Unexpectedly Fire Assistant Coach During OTAs

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated May 29, 2026 12:00 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy is already making a change to his staff.

The Steelers named McCarthy their 17th head coach in team history back in January. The veteran coach quickly put together an experienced staff, which included senior assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II.

Swinton, 41, has been coaching in the NFL since 2009. He had stints with the Rams, Chiefs, Broncos, Bears, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Chargers and Raiders before making his way over to the Steelers. He served as special teams coordinator for the 49ers in 2016 and Chargers in 2021.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday that Swinton is no longer on McCarthy's staff. The Steelers parted ways with him because he violated a club policy.

It's unclear what Swinton did to warrant being fired in the middle of organized team activities (OTAs).

Jan 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy speaks at a press conference introducing him as the next head coach of the Steelers at PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium.. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

What to expect from the Steelers in 2026?

The Steelers have enjoyed plenty of success during their time with Mike Tomlin, winning 193 games and never going under .500. That being said, Pittsburgh's offense consistently came up short in big spots over the past few years.

Steelers fans are hoping McCarthy's offense can breath new life into the organization. He'll get to reunite with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who completed 66.5% of his passes last season for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Rodgers has already announced that he'll retire after the 2026 season. We'll see if he can go out with one last playoff run.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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