Tag: Art Rooney

Comparing the Steelers coaching staff to the elite of the NFL

The Steelers have a much smaller coaching staff than the two teams playing in the Super Bowl.

One of the questions the media asked Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II recently was about the size of the Steelers coaching staff size. It’s fairly common knowledge that the Steelers coaching staff is one of the smallest in the NFL and a point of contention for fans.

Rooney downplayed the disparity but we wondered just how much of a difference there is between the Steelers and the best of the NFL. And by best, we are using the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The two teams squaring off in the Super Bowl in less than two weeks.

The Steelers list 19 coaches on their website not counting the team’s strength and conditioning coach. By comparison, the Chiefs have 28 coaches on their site and the Eagles have 25 coaches.

Is this enough to make a difference? The results on the field say yes. A greater division of labor between the offense and the defense seems to yield better results on the field. In particular, both the Chiefs and Eagles have their own individual run game and passing game coordinators while the Steelers have neither. Given how much the Steelers offense struggles, these positions feel like a no-brainer.

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Coaching staff size not an issue for Steelers team president

The Steelers maintain one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the entire NFL. While some teams have individual passing game and run game coordinators and specialized defensive coaches, the Steelers keep it very old school, which amounts to the absolute bare minimum.

Steelers President Art Rooney II was asked about this by the local Pittsburgh media and he defended the small coaching staff and said he didn’t think it is a limiting factor for this team despite its struggles.

“I just don’t see that holding us back,” Rooney said. “I don’t think that’s our problem.”

It has always felt like the Steelers are micromanaged by head coach Mike Tomlin. Since the days of guys like Dick LeBeau and Bruce Arians ended, Tomlin seems to want to keep his thumb on everything and a larger coaching staff would only create more work for him.

The Steelers went 10-7 in 2024 but faded down the stretch to the tune of four straight losses in the regular season and getting doubled up by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.

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Steelers president lays out goals for the QB position

Steelers President Art Rooney II hopes the team can re-sign either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson but says the team will also look to the draft.

On Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II talked to several members of the local media about last season and the team’s plan going forward. The Steelers finished the season on a low note going 10-7, losing its final four regular-season games and getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

This was despite the Steelers completely rebuilding the quarterback depth chart in the offseason. Out were Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph and in were Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen.

The change didn’t prompt the improvement anyone hoped for and now the Steelers are back to square one. Rooney talked about what he hopes will happen but kept things realistic in terms of keeping Wilson and Fields.

“I wouldn’t close the door but I’d say it’s probably unlikely,” Rooney said. “I think both of them see themselves as starters and I don’t know that they want to share the same job again next year.”

Rooney was also asked if the team learned anything about drafting a quarterback after missing the mark on Kenny Pickett.

“It’s disappointing that Kenny didn’t work out to be our long-term quarterback, and I’m not sure there’s a lot to be learned from that,” Rooney said. “We just have to look at the next opportunity.”
Whether or not the Steelers keep Wilson or Fields will have a huge impact on their decision whether or not to spend a high draft pick on a rookie quarterback again. If Fields re-signs, the Steelers could see him as a more long-term answer, while the return of Wilson would be more short-term.
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Kyle Van Noy is the Ravens nominee for the 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship award

Kyle Van Noy is the Ravens nominee for the 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship award

On Monday morning, the NFL released its 32 nominees for the tenth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Since its inception in 2014, each NFL team has nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Art Rooney Sr.

“Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the spirit of fair play and the values of respect, integrity, commitment to team, and resiliency at the highest level of competition.”

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy was nominated for this prestigious award. His extraordinary leadership and sportsmanship were evident throughout this season in his work on and off the field.

Current NFL player’s votes determine the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner. The winner will be announced during NFL Honors and receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.

DeVonta Smith is the Eagles nominee for 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

DeVonta Smith is the Eagles nominee for 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

The NFL released its 32 nominees for the tenth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Wednesday morning. Since its inception in 2014, each NFL team has nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Art Rooney Sr.

“Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the spirit of fair play and the values of respect, integrity, commitment to team, and resiliency at the highest level of competition.”

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver was nominated for this prestigious award. His extraordinary leadership and sportsmanship have been evident throughout this season as he helps out the younger guys on defense while still putting up great numbers on the field.

Current NFL player’s votes determine the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner. The winner will be announced during NFL Honors and receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.

Since 2014, no Philadelphia Eagles and two wide receivers (Matthew Slater and Larry Fitzgerald) have won the award.

Steelers President Art Rooney II clearly disappointed in 2024 schedule

Art Rooney II didn’t seem very enthusiastic about the Steelers’ chances with this year’s schedule.

Even before the schedule was laid out, the Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the toughest slates of games in the entire NFL. Then the official schedules came out and the way the league broke down the games, it made the challenge even harder.

This was a sentiment team President Art Rooney II shared rather subtly when he spoke to Steelers reporter Missi Matthews shortly after the schedule announcement.

“Not exactly how I would have drawn it up, but we’ve got to do the best we can,” Rooney said.

The Steelers face an incredible amount of hurdles on this schedule, including having all six AFC North matchups in the final eight games. A brutal three-game stretch in 10 days in December follows three prime-time games in four weeks in October.

Mike Tomlin is headed into his 18th season as the Steelers head coach and he’s never had a losing season. There’s no denying this schedule puts that streak in serious jeopardy.

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Steelers President Art Rooney II defends HC Mike Tomlin’s preparedness

The Steelers have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this season.

Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers released their full regular-season schedule for the 2024 NFL season, team President Art Rooney II spoke to team reporter Missi Matthews and they discussed what looks to be an incredibly challenging slate of games for Pittsburgh.

Rooney sounded disappointed at how the league arranged games but defended head coach Mike Tomlin and his ability to get his team ready to play regardless of the circumstances.

“Mike (Tomlin) does a good job of getting guys ready,” Rooney said. “There are no excuses in terms of what day of the week you’re playing. He doesn’t allow for that, or the time of the day.”

This all sounds great but history says otherwise. Despite Tomlin’s best of intentions, this team hasn’t always come out and looked prepared for their opponents. Starting games flat and listless isn’t an uncommon practice in recent seasons, which then forces the team to scramble and rally late in games. With the schedule lined up this season, the margin for error is so thin it just won’t work.

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Steelers GM Omar Khan downplays team’s failing grades in NFLPA report card

The Steelers got failing grades in multiple categories in their 2024 NFLPA report card.

The NFLPA handed out grades for all 32 NFL teams in a variety of categories, and some of the grades for the Pittsburgh Steelers were downright awful. The Steelers got an F-minus for the treatment of facilities, an F for the locker room and an F for ownership.

All of these failing grades point to team President Art Rooney II and ownership refusing to invest in the team and the facilities. Critics of the team say that dated facilities hurt the team’s ability to bring in free agents. General manager Omar Khan denies that claim, however.

“I by no means think our facilities are holding us back from being successful,” Khan said.

All it takes is a simple Google search to see what the team facilities are like for most NFL teams, and there is no denying how dated the Steelers’ are compared to other teams’. The fact the Steelers share facilities with the University of Pittsburgh doesn’t help either.

Will two years of low grades have any impact on the team? Probably not. Free agency is set to start in just a couple of weeks, and it will be interesting to see which teams draw in the most high-profile free agents and whether there is any correlation between the best facilities and the best signings.

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Art Rooney II crushes hopes of Steelers fans wanting to replace Kenny Pickett

On the heels of teasing a potential QB trade, Steelers President Art Rooney II suggested fans curb their enthusiasm for any such occurrence.

On the heels of teasing a potential quarterback trade, Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II suggested fans curb their enthusiasm for any such occurrence.

As if his conversation with KDKA’s Bob Pompeani not even 24 hours earlier had created unwanted buzz, Rooney sat down with WTAE’s Andrew Stockey to clear the air.

“The question that was asked — would I consider anything like that as we sit here today,” Rooney told Stockey. “I said we don’t want to close the door on anything, but I’d still put it in the unlikely category. We like to look at any opportunity we think can make us better. That’s why I don’t close the door on anything. I don’t want to create a lot of speculation that we’re going out looking to make some big blockbuster trade at the quarterback spot. I put it in the unlikely category.”

While a blockbuster quarterback trade doesn’t appear to be in the cards for the Steelers anytime soon, moves will need to be made. If the team releases Mitch Trubisky, as is speculated, Kenny Pickett will be the only quarterback under contract.

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Steelers President Art Rooney II leaves door open for QB trade

A trade for quarterback could still be an option for the Steelers.

The top priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason is sorting through their options at quarterback and hopefully making a decision that will create a more efficient offense. After adding Arthur Smith at offensive coordinator, this is magnified even more.

There is one school of thought that the Steelers best option is to trade for a quarterback and the name that keeps coming up is Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields. Fields is reportedly on the market and you can’t deny his skills are enticing.

But before you just assume there’s no chance, there might still be hope. Steelers President Art Rooney said in a recent interview that as the team sits now in early February they aren’t closing the door on any moves including trading for a quarterback.

Smith’s offensive philosophy is centered on running the football, working play action from that and running with the quarterback in their zone scheme. The Steelers coaches need to decide if Kenny Pickett can be that guy. If not, a trade for a player like Fields would make a ton of sense if the price is right. If not, the Steelers could consider going with a quarterback early in the 2024 NFL draft.

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