Can a proven Vikings offensive mind ignite Pittsburgh's struggling attack? They're banking on Brian Angelichio to bring new life and production.
The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked 25th among the 32 NFL teams in total offense this season. The Minnesota Vikings were even worse at No. 28.
However, the Steelers and new head coach Mike McCarthy are looking to a member of the Vikings’ staff to jazz up the offense. They hired Vikings pass game coordinator/tight ends coach Brian Angelichio as offensive coordinator on Tuesday.
McCarthy plans to call the offensive plays, but Angelichio will be involved in gameplanning.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson was Angelichio’s top student with the Vikings. Hockenson set a single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end with 95 in 2023 for 960 yards.
Angelichio, 53, spent the past five seasons on the Vikings’ staff. He was previously an NFL assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13), the Cleveland Browns (2014-15), the Green Bay Packers (2016-18), Washington (2019), and the Carolina Panthers (202-2001) before joining the Vikings. McCarthy was the coach during Angelichio's time with the Packers.
Angelichio coached at the college level at SUNY-Brockport (1995), Ithaca (1996-2005), Pittsburgh (2006-10), and Rutgers (2011).
Pittsburgh has now hired 10 new assistant coaches for McCarthy, who replaced Mike Tomlin, who resigned on Feb. 24. Previously, the team hired defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, offensive line coach James Campen, assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans, running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr., and receivers coach Adam Henry. The Steelers have retained quarterback Tom Arth and inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley from Tomlin’s staff.
Tomlin resigned one day after the Steelers’ season ended with a loss to the Houston Texans in an AFC Wild Card playoff game. He finished with a regular-season record of 193-114-2, tying Hall of Famer Chuck Noll for the franchise wins record. Pittsburgh went 10-7 this season and won their first AFC North title since 2020.
McCarthy was a head coach with the Packers for 13 seasons from 2006-18 and five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 24. His record is 174-112-2 during the regular season.
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