Steelers expected to retain Matt Canada as OC

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers expected to retain Matt Canada as offensive coordinator

By Aaron Becker | Last updated Jan 18, 2023 1:51 PM ET

The Steelers apparently made a decision on their offensive coordinator for 2023.

The news may come as a shock to some, but the team is expected to stick with current OC Matt Canada, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gery Dulac.

Steelers have no plans to replace offensive coordinator Matt Canada and he is expected to return in 2023, per sources https://t.co/aF3nnZsgLk
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 18, 2023

The Steelers were tied with the Rams as the sixth-worst team in points per game (18.1) and were the only team in the league to have only three plays longer than 40 yards all year. Their longest touchdown was 31 yards, and 21 of their 28 total touchdowns were less than 10 yards, according to Dulac.

However, it may have been Pittsburgh's 7-2 run to finish the season 9-8 that saved Canada's job, and maybe the Steelers don't want to make a change with their young QB Kenny Pickett still developing, as Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot noted.

At this point, not surprising at all Matt Canada is returning. Wouldn't have been my choice but Steelers' calculation is they have a young offense that's intact, all starters essentially returning, and hiring a new OC would create growing pains this unit just got past. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 18, 2023

Pickett is looking forward to 2023 with confidence in Canada and his offense.

"I think we really caught stride after that bye week, man. We figured out what it takes to win and what that recipe looks like," Pickett said on "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward." "We just need to take that jump in year two ... I'm excited to continue to work with him this offseason."

Without any changes being made, Canada and his offense will be on the hot seat once again in 2023 with an expectation of much better results.

Aaron Becker

Aaron Becker is a Pittsburgh-based sports journalist, primarily covering the NFL and college football. He previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs (2021-22), Pittsburgh Steelers (2019-21) and University of Pittsburgh (2018-19). Becker has a B

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