Jon Gruden looks on while coaching the Raiders.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Head coach John Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before a game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record despite a sluggish offense that has averaged the fourth-fewest points per game at 15.9.

Going back to last year, there have been plenty of calls from Steelers fans for head coach Mike Tomlin to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada. If the offense doesn’t start finding its rhythm soon, Tomlin may have no choice but to make a change.

Steelers’ reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was recently asked about a potential replacement for Canada as offensive coordinator. Dulac floated the name of a former Super Bowl-winning head coach and good friend of Tomlin’s in Jon Gruden:

“Way too early to speculate. But a good one would be a Tomlin friend — Jon Gruden..”

Gruden was head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to ’08. In 2018, he returned to coach the Raiders before resigning in the midst of the 2021 season, after emails of him using homophobic, misogynistic and racist language were leaked.

 

There would be plenty of PR backlash if the Steelers were to bring back Gruden, who’s currently working with the New Orleans Saints in an advisory role. Of course, it remains to be seen if Pittsburgh thinks that Gruden is their best choice for the OC position.

Coming off a thrilling victory over the archrival Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers are on their bye week as they prepare for a Week 7 road game against the Los Angeles Rams.