Running backs coach James Saxon became the second Steelers assistant to lose his job when coach Mike Tomlin announced Monday that he wasn’t renewing his contract.
Saxon had been with the Steelers for five years.
Outside linebackers coach Joey Porter didn’t have his contract renewed by Tomlin last week.
Saxon was let go even though second-year running back James Conner, filling in for the absent Le’Veon Bell, was named to the Pro Bowl. In 18 NFL seasons as a running backs coach, Saxon had one of his backs reach the Pro Bowl 15 times.
Conner finished with 973 yards rushing in 13 games, missing three with a high ankle sprain. The Steelers, however, ranked No. 31 in rushing and also had the second fewest rushing attempts in the NFL.
Saxon previously coached for the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Saxon spent eight NFL seasons playing for the Chiefs, Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to Bell and Conner, Saxon coached a number of high-profile Pro Bowl running backs, including Adrian Peterson, Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.
