Eddie Faulkner, Mike Sullivan to share responsibilities after Steelers fire OC Matt Canada

The fallout from Mike Tomlin’s dismissal of Matt Canada as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator means added responsibilities for two assistants on staff.

Tomlin on Tuesday announced running backs coach Eddie Faulkner as offensive coordinator but named quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan as the play-caller on game days.

In essence, they will split the role held by Canada for two-plus seasons and 44 games.

“We still have to coach running backs, and we still have to coach quarterbacks,” Tomlin said. “The strength of the pack is the pack. When faced with challenges, that is the natural and appropriate thing — you distribute responsibility.”

Faulkner, 46, is in his fifth season coaching Steelers running backs. Sullivan, 56, is in his third as quarterbacks coach.

Tomlin said Faulkner will oversee the offensive staff that includes wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson, tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts, offensive line coach Pat Meyer and Sullivan. He will coordinate and organize meetings and help formulate the game plan while “leading our unit as a collective in reviewing our tape and preparation for upcoming opponents,” Tomlin said.

Added Tomlin: “He has full authority in that regard — and my support.”

Faulkner has been in the coaching ranks since 2002 and spent the entirety of his career at the college level until Tomlin hired him in 2019 to coach the Steelers’ running backs. Faulkner has two years of coordinating an offense on his resume when he also served as run game coordinator at Ball State.

“He has a real steady voice and demeanor,” Tomlin said. “He’s really solid. I love the way he has managed his room through the years he has been here, through good times and bad times. There is always great clarity in that space. He’s natural with people from a communication standpoint and a consistency of communication. I have no reservations about his ability.”

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Sullivan joined the Steelers in 2021 when Canada was promoted to offensive coordinator. Sullivan bridged the final year of Ben Roethlisberger’s career to the first under first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett.

Sullivan previously worked for the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants (twice). He spent two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers and two more in that role with the Giants. However, Sullivan didn’t start calling plays in New York until midway through his second season when then-coach Ben McAdoo relinquished those duties.

“He’s a good, solid communicator,” Tomlin said. “He’s highly organized, really consistent. He’s got experience as a play-caller and as a play-caller in less-than-ideal circumstances. He’s been interim before.”

Tomlin said he never considered looking outside the organization for a coordinator as the Steelers try to navigate the final seven games of a regular season.

“It’s a good means of calling upon guys who have a natural skillset in those areas or experience in those areas without disrupting the apple cart too much,” Tomlin said.

The Faulkner/Sullivan duo marks the first offensive coordinator pairing in Tomlin’s 17 seasons with the Steelers. Previous coordinators under Tomlin were Bruce Arians for five seasons, Todd Haley for six and Randy Fichtner for three before Canada’s hiring in 2021.

Tomlin said the expectations won’t be lowered because of the change in coordinators.

“We’re not grading on a curve.”