Ron Schwane / Associated Press
A week after breaking up with Randy Fichtner, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly interviewed former Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson for the offensive coordinator position.
By ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Thursday, Jackson met with the Steelers earlier this week.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network said on January 14 that the Steelers had decided not to renew Fichtner’s contract, which was due to expire at the beginning of the new league year in March.
Fichtner has spent the past two seasons as a Pittsburgh offensive coordinator. The 57-year-old has been with the organization since 2007, when he started as a wide receivers coach. He also served as a quarterback coach for 10 seasons from 2010 to 2019.
The Steelers attack ended 31st in adjusted value for defense over average (DVOA) in 2019 and 22nd in 2020, for players outside of football. He came in 12th place this season with healthy Ben Roethlisberger, but the team’s hopes for the championship ended with a 48-37 loss to the Browns as an AFC wild card, in which he made five turns.
Jackson has been out of the NFL since the end of the 2018 season. He ended that year at Cincinnati Bengals as special assistant to coach Marvin Lewis, after being fired by the Browns after starting 2-5-1.
In four seasons as coach between the Browns and Oakland Raiders, Jackson went 11-44-1 overall, with no playoff appearances. He was the NFL’s offensive coordinator for four teams, including Bengals (2014-15), Raiders (2010), Atlanta Falcons (2007) and Washington (2003).