Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard is landing with the Atlanta Falcons under Raheem Morris in their vacant wide receivers coach job, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.
Hilliard coached with the Steelers for two seasons, coming over from Washington before the 2020 season. He had been credited with the development of young wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool in his time in Pittsburgh. But when Claypool took a step back, the team moved on after the 2021 season and hired current wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson.
Hilliard was a former first-round pick of the NY Giants in 1997 and went on to play twelve years in the NFL with the Giants (1997-2004) and Tampa Bay (2004-08). The Florida alum played in 161 games and caught 546 passes for 6,397 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Before he did join the Steelers staff, he spent six seasons as the wide receivers coach in Washington. Prior to his time with the Redskins, Hilliard has stunts with the Buffalo Bills (2013), Redskins (2012) and Miami (2011), as their assistant wide receivers coach.
Pittsburgh is looking for a new offensive coordinator and could look to make changes. Jackson could one of those names that was tied to Matt Canada but might not be that tied to the new offensive coordinator.
Jackson was a receivers coach at the collegiate level for Baylor (2018-19), Temple (2015-16), NC State (2013-14), North Illinois (2012), Akron (2010-11) and Western Illinois (2008-09). Jackson worked for Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and alongside running backs coach Eddie Faulkner for two seasons at NC State.
A Chicago native, Jackson played quarterback at North Illinois from 1997-99, while Canada was on the staff there as running backs coach. He transferred to Western Illinois and made the shift to wide receiver for his senior season in 2000, where he holds the school’s single-game records for receptions and yards.