(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Since Mike Munchak left the Steelers for Denver following the 2018 season, the Steelers haven't been able to find a quality offensive line coach. Shaun Sarrett lasted just two seasons before being let go and Adrian Klemm's tenure was even shorter, as he didn't even make it through the entire year last season. Klemm accepted a position with Oregon near the end of the season (he might have been fired anyway, that's how bad the O-line was).
With having three offensive line coaches in three seasons, if you count Chris Morgan as the interim offensive line coach, the Steelers are hoping that the hire of Pat Meyer will be a success. It appears, however, that the Steelers were in talks with former offensive line coach Mike Munchak to return. Munchak was with the Steelers from 2014-2018 and is regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league.
“We talk…” Munchak told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey then quickly stopping and adding “that’s one of those things I don’t really want to talk about. I was more at the time, trying to stay in Denver, out West. It’s something we never really discussed because, as much as I loved Coach Tomlin, there is no better head coach in football as a player to work for or as a coach to work for. I learned so much from him and the Rooney’s and the way they run their organization. For me that was a great learning experience. I learned a lot from my years there.”
Munchak made the lateral move to be the Broncos' offensive line coach in 2019 because he wanted to be closer to his daughter and granddaughter in Denver. Munchak was let go by the Broncos after Vic Fangio was fired following the 2021 season.
“At the time I was trying to stay out West," Munchak said. "It was not something I was considering at the time when they may or may not have had an opening. I was 100% focused at trying to stay out in this part of the country. It didn’t quite work out this year for that to happen.”
Munchak, 62, is still looking to coach, so if things don't work out with Meyer, perhaps a return to Pittsburgh could be in the cards.
“I love the game too much,” Munchak said. “I’d love to continue to work, especially offensive line coaches. It’s something I love doing, I love teaching. I love being around the players whether they be teenagers or in their twenties or thirties. It’s something I love doing, so it’s something I would like to continue doing. Hopefully if the right opportunity comes up this year or next year, whenever, I would continue to coach.”
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