Matt Canada, the Steelers’ one-season coach, has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Canada replaces Randy Fichtner, who did not renew his contract at the end of the 2020 season.
Under Canada, Ben Roethlisberger completed 399 of 608 passes for 3,803 yards, with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, for a 94.1 rating. The Steelers’ passing game was seventh in the AFC and 15th in the NFL.
The Steelers offense implemented jet-sweeps and pre-snap moves early in the season, something Canada has been known for throughout its career as a coach.
Canada joined the Steelers from the university ranks in 2020, where he had two decades of experience as a coach and attacking coordinator and in 2016 was a finalist for the Broyles Award, a tribute to the top assistant coach in college football.
His career track record in college included setting offensive unit school records at several stops in his career, including Indiana, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, as well as at the University of Maryland in 2018 when he was the interim head coach.
Canada served as the offensive quarterback coordinator and coach at LSU in 2017, helping to lead full-back Danny Etling to a strong season, where he dropped 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions, while LSU spent the season ended up in first place in the country for the least turnover. .
Canada spent the 2016 season at the University of Pittsburgh as offensive coordinator, and the Panthers achieved a school record of 42 points per game. Pitt was the leader of the country in the red-zone touchdown percentage (82%) and scored at least 28 points in all 12 games in the regular season, including a 43-42 victory over eventual national champion Clemson.
While at NC State (2013-’15), he coached quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who threw 43 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions under his leadership over a two-year period. The Cloud Pack finished third in the ACC in offense in 2015 and scored the most points (41) in the regular season against Clemson, the finalist of the College Football Playoff.
Canada played a key role in Wisconsin’s lead in 2012 after a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth. The Badgers finished nationally in the offense and Montee Ball won the Doak Walker Award as the best fullback in the country.
Before joining the Wisconsin staff, Canada led crimes in Northern Illinois (2003, 2011) and Indiana (2007-10). In 2011, the Huskies won the MAC Championship and finished in the top 12 nationally in attack, total offense and rushing attack. Canada led an offense that set a school record of 412 points in Indiana in 2007, and three different backs each rank among the top three in one-season passes, passing spots and completion percentage.
In his first term as Northern Illinois offensive coordinator in 2003, the Huskies climbed as high as number 12 in the AP poll. Canada was instrumental in the development of All-American running rugby Michael Turner.