Arguably the most polarizing coach on the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching staff is offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
The announcement of his return last Wednesday came as a surprise and a disappointment to much of the Steelers fanbase, as many felt the offense grossly underachieved this past season, despite having to endure the peaks and valleys of a rebuilding year with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett at the helm.
When asked about his reason for keeping Canada as their offensive coordinator, Steelers president Art Rooney II told reporters in his afternoon press conference that his decision stemmed from the development of Pickett and the relationship he built during the course of the season.
Steelers writer Dale Lolley elaborated further on Rooney II's comments.
Rooney II also acknowledged the major improvement of the Steelers offense during the second half of the season, specifically in their last nine games, when they averaged 146 rushing yards per game. They also dominated time of possession, finishing fifth in the NFL at 31:18.
Though there is still much room for improvement, Rooney II felt that the team overall was heading in the right direction, as they finished 7-2 in the second half of the season. Despite his return, Canada will face high expectations to not only improve the offense's output from 2022, but also to transform it into a viable AFC contender while assisting Pickett in taking his game to the next level.