View topic - Todd Haley Named Offensive Coordinator

[SojuMaster Profile]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have named Todd Haley as their new offensive coordinator, it was announced today.


“I am excited about the opportunity to come back home and work for a tremendous organization,” Haley said. “It is an honor to work with the Rooney family and Coach Tomlin and continue the success that has become synonymous with the Steelers. My father has so many fond memories both from his playing days and his time in the personnel department with the team, and I look forward to helping bring more championships to Pittsburgh and to being a part of one of the storied franchises in the NFL.”


Haley has spent 17 years in the NFL, including the last 15 as a coach after his career began as a scouting assistant. He joins the Steelers after spending the majority of the last three seasons as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Haley led the Chiefs to the greatest single-season turnaround in franchise history, winning the AFC West in 2010 by recording six more victories than in 2009. For leading Kansas City to its first division title since 2003, Haley was voted by former players and coaches as the NFL Alumni Coach of the Year.


Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley was the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals from 2007-08. In his second season Haley helped the Cardinals win their first division title since 1975 and earn a spot in the franchise’s first Super Bowl (XLIII). Haley’s offense recorded a franchise record 427 points and became the fifth team in NFL history to have three receivers eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season. Haley has also served as an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys (2004-06), Chicago Bears (2001-03) and the New York Jets (1997-2000), helping each team earn a playoff berth.


He is the son of Dick Haley, who spent 44 seasons in the NFL including serving as the Steelers’ director of player personnel from 1971-90.

[SojuMaster Profile]

I am mixed on this pick. He was not on my top 15 list of canidates, but then ANYONE is better than BA.

Here is a breakdown of his career:

Team; Position; Year; Record
Jets; Assistant in the Scouting Department; 1995; 3-13
Jets; Assistant in the Scouting Department; 1996; 1-15
Jets; Offensive Assistant/Quality Control coach; 1997; 9-7
Jets; Offensive Assistant/Quality Control coach; 1998; 12-4, Playoffs 1-1
Jets; Wide Receivers coach; 1999; 8-8
Jets; Wide Receivers coach; 2000; 9-7
Bears; Wide Receivers coach; 2001; 13-3, Playoffs 0-1
Bears; Wide Receivers coach; 2002; 4-12
Bears; Wide Receivers coach; 2003; 7-9
Cowboys; Wide Receivers coach/Passing Game Coordinator; 2004; 6-10
Cowboys; Wide Receivers coach/Passing Game Coordinator; 2005; 9-7
Cowboys; Wide Receivers coach/Passing Game Coordinator; 2006; 9-7, Playoffs 0-1
Cardinals; Offensive Coordinator; 2007; 8-8
Cardinals; Offensive Coordinator; 2008; 9-7, Playoffs 3-1 (Superbowl XLIII)
Chiefs; Head Coach; 2009; 4-12
Chiefs; Head Coach; 2010; 10-6, Playoffs 0-1
Chiefs; Head Coach; 2011; 5-8 - Fired

In 2007 he did not assume fulltime play calling duties until late into the season.
2008 is the only full year in being the OC position.

While team records are hardly a true indicator of his abilities, he does lack experience in being with a winning organization. I hope that he can step up to an organization that is built around excellence.

[relictele Profile]

Some people's career ceiling is a coordinator position but in too many cases in the NFL they are promoted simply because they are 'next' in line for interviews etc. And, too often, they are not cut out to be head coaches.

I'm not sure Haley sees this as a long-term thing. He seems very keen to return to a HC spot. Although it reflects well on any organization when others want to hire their talent away, it is also a distraction for the organization and the individual who constantly have to deal with questions about it.

Does he bring anything unique and/or successful to the table? I get the feeling that it will be some of the nondescript mish-mash that mediocre clubs put up with for years on end.

[Sun and Steel Profile]

In other words, Haley and Arians are actually twins separated at birth. We have replaced Bruce Arians with....Bruce Arians. I borderline hate this move. The only positive is that he is not one known to toe the line. He will push Tomlin and Ben out of their comfort zones. I think Art steamrolled Haley into town to shake things up. Not a bad time to do so because the best this team does next year is 9-7 and maybe a wild card any way. The defensive talent is not there to go much further.

[isfry Profile]

Just to put a potential positive spin on things, I'll say this. The only year he had full play calling responsibility all year he took Arizona to the super bowl and they had a pretty damn good year on offense. Furthermore, he has experience as WR coach on three different teams, which could translate into our having an offense that utilizes all of the talent we have at the WR position, something BA refused to do. Moreover, as I indicated on another post here, his family has a Pitt pedigree. Todd himself went to High School in the area and was a ball boy for the Stillers when his dad was on the roster. I actually like this call, better than Van Pelt for sure. Let's give him a chance. If we don't go to three Super Bowls and win two in his first seven years I will gladly help run him out of town...

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

I would be stupidly happy with this hire if only we could go a whole game without a WR screen.