Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, a decorated player, now coaches Pittsburgh's offensive line, bringing proven winning experience and a championship pedigree.
The old joke about those who can do do and those who can’t teach does not apply in Jahri Evans’ case.
The new Pittsburgh Steelers assistant offensive line coach is learning the teaching side of football. Evans spent the last three seasons on the Saints coaching staff following a stint as an intern with New Orleans during training camp in 2022.
However, it was on the playing field where Evans made his mark. He played guard at a high level during his 12-year NFL career with the Saints (2006-16) and the Green Bay Packers (2017). In Evans’ last season, he played for new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach James Campen.
Evans was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro five times. He was also selected to the NFL’s all-2010s team.
The Saints finished in the top 10 in total offense in the NFL during each of Evans’ 11 seasons. They also allowed 196 sacks in that span, the second-lowest figure in the league.
Evans was selected to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2020. Additionally, he has been inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, and the Saints Ring of Honor.
The Saints selected Evans in the fourth round of the 2006 draft from Bloomsburg University. In college, he was twice a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is presented annually to the top offensive lineman in Division II.
Evans and Campen are two of five new assistant coaches hired since McCarthy replaced Mike Tomlin on Jan. 27. They join defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr., and receivers coach Adam Henry. Pittsburgh has 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 its first AFC North title since 2020.
McCarthy was a head coach with the Packers for 13 seasons from 2006-18 and the Dallas Cowboys for five seasons from 2020-24. His record is 174-112-2 during the regular season.
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