UPDATE: The Steelers are reportedly considering moving WR coach Randy Fichtner into the offensive coordinator positions AND bringing in Hines Ward to coach wide receivers...
โI have made the decision to not renew the contract for offensive coordinator Todd Haley,โโ Mike Tomlin said Wednesday. โI would like to thank Todd for his contributions to our offense the past six years, and we wish him the best in his coaching future.โ
Haley joined the Steelers in 2012 as offensive coordinator after they did not renew the expired contract of Bruce Arians, who was promoted from receivers coach to coordinator when Mike Tomlin became coach in 2007.
There have been many a rumor around the organization that Ben and Haley did not get along very well, and that Roethlisberger requested a "buffer" between them. Prompting Mike Tomlin to bring the Steelers QB coach Randy Fitchner down from the booth to the sideline, an otherwise unorthodox move.
The reaction on Twitter in response to Haley's exit...
Looking at Haley's history of combativeness with players and coaches (specifically in Arizona and Dallas where he had run-ins with QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin, and WR Terrell Owens), it's not much of a stretch that Ben and other on the Steelers sideline just plain didn't like the guy.
But you can't get rid of Haley so easily. He's a Pittsburgh native, graduating from Upper St Clair, and his father also played for/worked with the Steelers organization.