Bruce Arians, Pittsburgh Steelers OC, Retires From Coaching

[KnightNoles]

The Steelers offense will have a new coordinator next season as Bruce Arians has informed the team he intends to retire from coaching.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/1/20/2721000/bruce-arians-retire-pittsburgh-steelers-offensive-coordinator

Jan 20, 2012 - Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Friday that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has informed him he intends to retire from coaching. Arians, 59, has been with the Steelers organization since 2004 when he started as the receivers coach.

Bruce Arians has informed me that he will retire from coaching. I appreciate his efforts over the past five years as the team's offensive coordinator and for helping lead our offense to new heights during his time with the Steelers. I am grateful to Bruce for contributing to our success and wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.

He took the offensive coordinator job in 2007. The Steelers offense has been up and down during that time ranking (since 2007) 9th, 20th, 12th, 12th and 21st this season.

Pittsburgh area reporters have indicated recently that Arians likely wasn't going to return. A few potential replacements have been thrown out there, such as former Chiefs coach Todd Haley, but it's unclear which direction the Steelers will go.

For more on the Steelers and their coaching situation, check out SB Nation's Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain.

[SethMode]

Good. Arians made me crazy more often than not.

[KnightNoles]

I agree, disliked him and liked him off and on

[steeljake]

fuck yes. no more 5 wide on 3rd and short... lol at todd haley being mentioned... fuck him.

[G-men]

Slow news day...

[Guest]

fuck yes. no more 5 wide on 3rd and short... lol at todd haley being mentioned... fuck him.

[KnightNoles]

ESPN article..

Sources: Steelers prez wants old O

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7489906/pittsburgh-steelers-chose-not-keep-bruce-arians-bucking-ben-roethlisberger-sources-say

While Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians announced his retirement Friday, team sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen the Steelers chose not to retain Arians, against the wishes of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The sources said the move was made in order to shift the offense back toward its blue-collar identity of years past, in line with the desires of Steelers president Art Rooney II.

Arians, 59, has been the only offensive coordinator in coach Mike Tomlin's five seasons with the Steelers. During his time as coordinator, he turned the Steelers from a run-first team to a pass-heavy one to better suit Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh ranked in the top half of the NFL in offense over the past three seasons but finished a disappointing 12th this past season.

"Bruce Arians has informed me that he will retire from coaching," Tomlin said in a statement. "I appreciate his efforts over the past five years as the team's offensive coordinator and for helping lead our offense to new heights during his time with the Steelers. I am grateful to Bruce for contributing to our success and wish him nothing but the best in his retirement."

The Steelers have a history of promoting from within at offensive coordinator. Arians joined the Steelers in 2004 as the wide receivers coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007.

Information from ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[SethMode]

ESPN article..

Sources: Steelers prez wants old O

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/74...er-sources-say

Ben has certainly blossomed as a QB under Arians, so I guess in that respect I'm happy, but I agree with the overall direction. I always felt their pass first offense was more successful/better suited to Ben over this pass heavy one.

[KnightNoles]

Yea I don't fault him for developing Ben, I fault him with some of the personnel and his play calling on certain downs...