Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin reveals why it took so long to fire Matt Canada

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated 1/9/24

It seems like ages ago, but it's been less than two months since the Pittsburgh Steelers and Matt Canada parted ways.

The team has had their fair share of ups and downs since Canada's departure, but when the QB has been either Kenny Pickett, or (more recently) Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh has looked much better offensively following Canda's release.

That has left many in the media and among the fanbase to wonder what took so long to pull the plug.

Well, Coach Tomlin just told us why, even if most aren't going to like it:

'Wasn't Himself'

“He [Mike Tomlin] said, ‘You know what, I needed to do it because everybody was feeling the crush of it, and Matt Canada couldn’t even be himself,” ' former Steelers DB and HOF HC Tony Dungy said on SNF's postgame show. “‘And so, for all of us, I had to make that move, and everybody responded.” ‘

Based on what Dungy shared, it seemed that the team knew Canada was a "Lame duck" OC and the elephant in the room had gotten to be too much of a distraction.

Surely it was hard on Canada and his entire family, as the "Fire Canada" chants permeated well beyond the lower bowl of Acrisure stadium.

So while the in-season firing was unprecedented given the tradition of the Steelers, it had to be done. And to credit Coach Tomlin and the Steelers offensive staff and players, I thought it was a case of too little too late, yet Pittsburgh is in the playoffs and has proved the opposite.

It just makes you wonder what the team would have looked like had the change been made well before midseason 2023.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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