The Facts: Todd Haley just finished the final year of his contract, and it is not common for a Steelers coordinator to return under those circumstances. They usually sign extensions before they enter that final year, unless there's a reason not to. The last one who ended his contract without an extension was ushered into "retirement" so they could hire Haley. It appears the same might happen to Haley that Bruce Arians experienced after the 2011 season, although no one would call this one a retirement.
Diehards Line:
As Post-Gazette staffer Ed Bouchette notes, Haley has done some good things with the Steelers offense and with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, particularly helping him cut down on the large number of sacks he had experienced throughout his career. One thing he did not do, however, was build rapport among some of his staff or support among key players in that offense, including Roethlisberger. The coach and quarterback rarely talked along the sidelines, never huddled to discuss upcoming strategy while their defense was on the field. Mike Tomlin made the unusual move at midseason to have QBs coach Randy Fichtner leave the coaches’ booth for the sideline. It came at the behest of Roethlisberger, who wanted a “buffer” between him and Haley, according to a CBS report at the time. If Haley moves on Fichtner would be a strong candidate to replace him as coordinator. Haley’s offense finished third in the NFL with an average of 377.9 yards per game in 2017, third in passing (273.8), eighth in points (25.4) and 20th in rushing (104.2), which has always been a Steelers staple. They produced 545 yards and 42 points Sunday in their playoff loss to Jacksonville, the NFL’s second-ranked defense in 2017. But then, they all proclaimed they have the best talent on offense in the league, as the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams have backed. And the schism that has developed among the players and coaches on offense may override some of the production as they decide how to move forward.