Report: Randy Fichtner Likely to Return as Steelers OC in 2020

Randy Fichtner is likely to once again call the plays from the Pittsburgh sidelines in 2020, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.


Fichtner, the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, has one year remaining on his contract, and Fowler reported on Monday that he’s likely to serve out his term as the leader of the Steelers’ offense, citing Fichtner’s closeness with returning Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Signs point to Steelers retaining OC Randy Fichtner. He still has another year on his contract, the team hasn't indicated any change internally and Fichtner is close with Ben Roethlisberger.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 6, 2020

Fichtner has been with the Steelers since 2007. He was wide receivers coach from 2007-09, quarterbacks coach from 2010-17 and just completed his second season as offensive coordinator.

In 2019, the Steelers finished 30th in the NFL in offensive yards per game with 276.8. They were 31st through the air with 186.3 yards per game passing and 29th on the ground with 90.4 yards per gam rushing. The Steelers finished 27th in points per game, averaging 18.1.

Those numbers were down across the board from 2018, at least in part thanks to the loss of Roethlisberger for the season to an elbow injury in Week 2.

Fichtner, who is a graduate of Meadville Area Senior High School a few hours north of Pittsburgh, has only ever coached in the NFL for the Steelers. He previously worked at Michigan, USC, UNLV, Memphis, Purdue and Arkansas State before joining Mike Tomlin’s staff in 2007.