New Steelers quarterback coach Matt Canada is feeling right at home at Heinz Field being surrounded by his former players. Canada, who came to the Steelers from the University of Maryland, was offensive coordinator for the Terrapins, where now-Steelers running back Anthony McFarland, Jr. made a name for himself.
Canada, whose resume includes offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Pittsburgh, was named Maryland’s interim head coach in 2018. The Terps’ head coach was terminated that October following the June heatstroke death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
McFarland, who played two seasons for the Terps before declaring for the NFL as a redshirt sophomore, logged 1,648 rushing yards and 199 receiving. He also posted 13 all-purpose touchdowns.
McFarland sang the praises of Canada after he was hired in Pittsburgh. “He was a players coach [at Maryland],” McFarland told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s, Brian Batko. “He cared about us a lot, and that made us want to play for him even more because of how he took over that job.”
“We were really excited when that worked out for us because I certainly have strong feelings for him [Anthony McFarland] as well,” said Canada in a press conference on Tuesday. “He is an explosive back, a dynamic back. He can take a five- or eight-yard gain and make it a very big play in a hurry, which he has done and shown in his play in college and the time I was with him.”
“I am excited to have him around. He is excited. He is learning, he is working, he is doing everything that I hoped he would be doing… I think he will find his niche and have a role for us.”
Another Steelers rookie, safety Antoine Brooks, Jr., also played for the Terps during Canada’s Maryland tenure.
Brooks, who was voted Terps MVP in 2019, finished the season as Maryland’s leading tackler with 87 stops (69 solo). He also posted 8.5 tackles for loss and five passes defended.
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