Family legacy and NFL success converge as Robert Kugler returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It is a homecoming for new Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends coach Robert Kugler.
Kugler’s father, Pete, was the Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2010-12. Pete’s first season in Pittsburgh coincided with Robert’s senior year at North Allegheny High School, where he starred as a center and received a scholarship to play at Purdue.
Robert Kugler spent the last two seasons as the New England Patriots’ assistant offensive line coach. The Patriots reached the Super Bowl this past season, losing to the Seattle Seahawks after finishing third in the NFL in overall offense during the regular season, fourth in passing, and sixth in rushing.
Kugler’s NFL coaching career began in 2021 as the Houston Texans’ assistant offensive line coach. He spent the next two seasons in the same role with the Carolina Panthers before moving on to the Patriots in 2024,
With his father as head coach, Kugler began coaching in 2017 as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at UTEP. From 2018-19, he was a graduate assistant at the University of Washington, then spent a season as an offensive quality control assistant at Appalachian State before moving to the NFL.
As a player, Kugler started 43 consecutive games at Purdue as a center and was a two-time team captain from 2012-15. The Buffalo Bills signed Kugler as an undrafted free agent, and he spent training camp with them in 2016.
Kugler joins the coaching staff of Mike McCarthy, who was hired last month after Mike Tomlin resigned following 19 seasons. The rest of the staff includes offensive coordinator: Brian Angelichio, quarterbacks coach Tom Arth, offensive line coach James Campen, running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr., wide receivers coach Adam Henry, senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr., game management/quarterbacks coach Tim Berbenich, assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans, offensive quality control coach Eric Simonelli, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, assistant head coach/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr., defensive pass-game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jason Simmons, defensive line coach Domata Peko, outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You, inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley, defensive assistant Shawn Howe, defensive assistant: Pat Reilly, special teams coordinator Danny Crossman and senior special teams assistant Derius Swinton II.
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