The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an ideal situation. Not only has there not been much player turnover, but their head coach and coordinators have been with the club for a combined 43 years.
- Mike Tomlin (head coach) — 2007-current
- Randy Fichtner (WRs/QBs, offense) — 2007-current
- Keith Butler (linebackers, defense) – 2003-current
In a year where there were no minicamps or OTAs and training camp transitioned into the regular season without as much as one preseason game, having an experienced coaching staff is critical.
Three of the Steelers upcoming opponents welcomed new head coaches this season: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns; Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys; and Joe Judge, New York Giants.
Stefanski and Judge have never coached an NFL game in their lives. McCarthy, however, was head coach of the Green Bay Packers for 12 seasons until he was fired in December 2018.
Typically, the NFL awards teams with a new head coach an additional minicamp, allowing extra time to install their systems and get to know players. That didn’t happen this year.
The Browns have hired a new head coach every 1.75 seasons since returning to Cleveland in 1999 (12 times), and the owners, unknowingly, couldn’t have picked a worse year to revamp. Stefanski and his staff were forced to develop the Browns Way 12.0 virtually.
The Bengals have second-year head coach Zac Taylor and rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. Because the pandemic delayed in-person player/coach unions, Taylor only just met his new quarterback face-to-face in July.
The Bengals, Browns, Cowboys and Giants could surprise us all and actually have their house in order come game time.
We’re about to see just how extensive the advantage of team loyalty is and if it translates to winning games. But I’m betting that experience wins out.
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