Steelers Daily Links: Love for John Mitchell; Steelers Penalty Turnaround

Alan Saunders |

Feb 20, 2023

A lot of love has been pouring in from around the football world since the retirement of Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell last week, and the Steelers improved greatly in one area in 2022.

? The Senior Bowl gave a https://twitter.com/seniorbowl/status/1627471034235363330″>shoutout

to John Mitchell on his retirement after 29 years as an assistant coach with the Steelers. “Congratulations on retirement to Coach John Mitchell! Coach graduated from Williamson High School here in Mobile before playing at Alabama and in the 1973 Senior Bowl. He has coached for 50 years including the last 29 years with the Steelers. Congrats Coach!”

? Steelers.com: Former Steelers defensive linemen Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke reflected on what it was like playing for John Mitchell. “He would break you down and then build you back up to play the way he wanted you to play,” Hoke said. “He had his way of doing things, but it worked. It was rough when you were young, because anytime you saw him, it didn’t matter if you were at lunch or breakfast, anytime you saw him, he would be breaking down a play, ‘Hokie, you have to do this when that happens.’ There was no time off from it. Then, when you got older and he trusted you, it was more relaxed.”

? USA Today: In 2021, the Steelers were 12th-worst in the NFL in penalties committed with 110 penalties against in 17 games. In 17 games in 2022, Pittsburgh only committed 94 penalties and that ranked 12th-best-worst in the NFL.

? Rod Woodson and Hines Ward were both thwarted in their search for their first head coaching win of the XFL season.

? Sunday marked the seventh anniversary of the retirement of Heath Miller. Miller, who’s a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor, retired as the all-time leader in receptions (592), receiving yards (6,569) and receiving touchdowns (45) by a tight end.

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