NFL Assistant Coach Sends Steelers a Message
The Pittsburgh Steelers should contact Mike Mitchell, according to a tweet from Mark Kaboly of The Athletic following the loss of assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander. Mitchell has spent the last two seasons as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Indianapolis Colts.
It’s reasonable to assume Mitchell would be open to coaching in Pittsburgh.
Mitchell tweeted back, “Would be an honor and an amazing opportunity,” in response to Kaboly.
In 2022, Mitchell was hired as an NFL coach by the Colts. However, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star revealed on January 24 that Mitchell’s Indianapolis contract has ended and the team does not anticipate having him back in 2024.
From 2014 to 2017, Mitchell was a safety for the Steelers. He recorded 281 total tackles over the course of four seasons, with one tackle for loss. In addition, Mitchell had four interceptions and 23 pass defenses.
Could Mike Mitchell Be Selected to Join the Defensive Staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers?
It’s an intriguing idea to have Mitchell return to Pittsburgh as an assistant coach. Joey Porter Sr. played for the Steelers, but he was coached by Bill Cowher. From 2014 to 2018, he was Mike Tomlin’s outside linebackers coach and defensive assistant.
If Mitchell was a defensive backs coach in Pittsburgh, he would accomplish the same thing—play for the Steelers and coach them.
Before the 2014 season, Mitchell agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with the Steelers. During his four seasons there, he helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win three division crowns and make it to the AFC Championship Game in 2016–17.
Mitchell began his career as a second-round pick of the then Oakland Raiders. In 2013, Mitchell had a career year with the Carolina Panthers following four years with the Raiders.
Before agreeing to a large contract with the Steelers, he finished the season with 66 total tackles, 4 sacks, and 4 interceptions.
In 2018, Mitchell’s tenure with the Colts came to an end. Frank Reich’s first season in Indianapolis was that one. Reich added Mitchell to the Colts coaching staff four years later.
Mitchell totaled 514 tackles in 10 NFL seasons, including 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 42 pass defenses, and 11 interceptions.
Search for the Steelers Offensive Coordinator
Eventually, the Steelers might focus exclusively on Mitchell. However, it appears that the organization is currently concentrating on potential offensive coordinators.
Zac Robinson, one of the applicants the Steelers asked to interview, decided to become the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.
There are now just two contenders left for the Steelers: Jerrod Johnson and Thomas Brown.
Brown oversaw offensive operations for the Panthers the previous season. But before that, he worked as Sean McVay’s assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. From 2020 to 2021, Brown was the running backs coach for the Rams; in 2022, he took over as tight end coach.
Although Johnson has never served as an offensive coordinator, similar to Robinson, he is a name that is circulating in NFL coaching rumors. In 2023, Johnson was the quarterbacks coach for the Houston Texans.
The Steelers may look at other candidates as well, but aside from Robinson, those two coaches are the ones in whom the team has openly shown interest in the position of offensive coordinator.
Johnson had previously worked with the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022. From 2020 to 21 he also worked for the Colts as an offensive quality control coach.
The Steelers may also take into consideration former NFL head coaches Kliff Kingsbury and Arthur Smith, as well as San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak.
