(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Judging by Mike Tomlin's comments at his season-ending press conference, it appears that offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be back next season. It also seems like defensive coordinator Keith Butler will retire, which was expected. Butler is 65, and there were rumblings in the media that Butler would be done after 2021.
Tomlin admitted that Butler has talked about calling it a career.
“Buts has had conversations about (2021) being potentially his last year, he and I hadn’t had an opportunity to sit down,” Tomlin said.
As far as Canada goes, Tomlin said he's "optimistic" about Canada and what he’s capable of doing.
Tomlin also said, "When you've got red paint, you paint the barn red" when asked if Canada had to hold back some of the offense as the season went on because of personnel.
That tells you everything you need to know and an indication that Canada needs a mobile quarterback to have his offense succeed. He was given that with a non-mobile 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger. Tomlin also talked about quarterback mobility, which he has raved about throughout the season at his press conferences.
"Man, quarterback mobility is valued," Tomlin said. "Not only by me but by everyone. It’s just a component of today’s game, and increasingly so."
Tomlin said, "all options are on the table" in regards to who will replace Ben Roethlisberger in 2022 at quarterback. Tomlin said Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins will be given the opportunity to prove themselves and compete for the starting job.
Tomlin said he'll leave it to Kevin Colbert to address his future. It was reported by the NFL Network that Colbert plans on retiring after the 2022 NFL Draft.
So, it looks like Roethlisberger, Colbert, and Butler are all going to ride off into the sunset together. Canada is staying put it appears, however, which won't make many in Steelers Nation happy, especially since the offense didn't score a touchdown in the first half in seven of their last eight games.
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