Steelers OC Target Strong Candidate for Falcons Job

The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their next head coach, which could affect the Steelers offensive coordinator search. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that Zac Robinson, who Pittsburgh is reportedly interested in interviewing, is a strong candidate to follow Morris to the Falcons to become their offensive coordinator.

Robinson has already interviewed with the Chicago Bears, but did not get that job. He is also scheduled to interview with the New England Patriots, and the Las Vegas Raiders have also placed a request to interview Robinson. The request is a formality, as teams cannot block candidates from interviewing for a position that represents a promotion.

Robinson, 37, would be the youngest coordinator ever hired by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

A disciple of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, Robinson has spent his entire NFL coaching career in L.A. He spent three years as assistant quarterbacks and wide receivers coach before taking the quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator job in 2022.

He helped oversee the club’s vastly improved offense in 2023 while helping to get the most out of exciting young stars like Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.

Robinson does not have experience as an NFL play-caller, or at any level, which Tomlin said was a preferred skill of candidates for the position.

A Littleton, Colorado native, Robinson played quarterback at Oklahoma State from 2005-09 and was a seventh-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2010. He bounced around the NFL from New England to the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, spending four seasons in the league.

An elbow injury in 2013 with Cincinnati forced him to spend the entire season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and he was waived with a failed physical designation the following May, ending his playing career.

If he is out of the picture, that could have serious changes for the Steelers’ search for their vacant job. It appears they are starting to get the search underway after interviewing Thomas Brown, but just how fast they expect to hire someone is unknown.