'No Chance' Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada Is Fired Midseason In 2023 According To Beat Writer

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be brewing a potential surprise 2023 showing with most of the attention in the AFC surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. The entire conference is stacked from top to bottom and it's not going to be an easy route to the playoffs. Pittsburgh has invested a ton of money on the defensive side of the ball and, if healthy, it could be one of the best units in the league. The downfall of Head Coach, Mike Tomlin's team, however, may occur because of the man calling the plays on offense.

A successful 2023 season for the Steelers is not solely based on a playoff appearance as second-year quarterback, Kenny Pickett will need to show huge growth after throwing just seven touchdowns in his rookie year. There are a plethora of weapons on the offensive side of the ball and the strategy Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada uses to include them will determine how well the unit performs.

Many fans were calling for Canada to be fired midway through the 2022 season after the offense was struggling, but after a solid finish to the campaign, the play-caller was welcomed back for 2023. He has not received a contract extension, however, so this could very well be his last year with the team if Pickett and co. are unable to display a dynamic operation.

Pittsburgh was dead last in passing touchdowns in 2022 while also ranking in the bottom half of the league in points and total touchdowns. Canada's group only averaged 18.1 points per game and received plenty of backlash for embarrassing run-run-pass-punt situations that occurred way too often. There are no excuses heading into 2023 with a revamped offensive line and plenty of talent.

It wouldn't come as a shock to many if the offense begins the 2023 campaign struggling. People will be extremely quick to call for Canada's firing if there is a slow period to begin the season. There are two formidable options to step up in quarterbacks coach, Mike Sullivan, and offensive assistant, Glenn Thomas, who was hired back in April.

Mark Kaboly, an insider for The Athletic, who has covered the team for two decades, was asked about Canada's job security in a recent mailbag. A fan asked when would be a reasonable timeline for the organization to part ways with him during the 2023 season.

"If the offense doesn’t take off the way people think it might, what week does Matt Canada get canned?" The fan asked.

Kaboly was short and sweet when it came to his response. The offensive coordinator will absolutely be with the team throughout the year, regardless of how the unit performs.

"He is not getting fired during the season. No chance," Kaboly wrote.

While Kaboly didn't go into detail about why he thinks this, it's not hard to put together. It could be extremely damaging to Pickett's growth if the play-caller he has worked with since being drafted in 2022 is fired in the middle of the season. It would probably be best to make the decision to part ways with Canada at the end of the year so the Steelers franchise quarterback has an entire offseason to work with whoever the replacement may be.

Steelers 2023 Season May Depend On Canada's Offensive Scheme

Pittsburgh's offense will need to be much more creative in 2023. There were promising signs during the team's first preseason game when the offense drove 83 yards down the field on their first possession of the game. This needs to happen consistently in 2023 and putting up 24 points or more throughout the season could land Canada a contract extension and the Steelers in the playoffs.

How hot do you think Canada's seat is entering 2023? Let us know in the comments below!

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