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Terrell Owens Calls Out Former Steelers OC
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Todd Haley had a nice run together. Haley served as the team’s offensive coordinator for six seasons between 2012 and 2018. His last season with the team was a difficult one, but most have fond memories of his run with the Steelers.
Not everyone is a fan of Haley, though. Recently, Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens appeared on the Bubba Dub podcast hosted by Jerry Bubba. During their chat, Owens dished on some coaches he didn’t like working with, naming Todd Haley specifically.
“You have people who don’t even have a lot of experience and they jump up to offensive coordinators,” he said. “Sometimes, for some people, you gradually work your way up. Some people do, some people don’t, because of relationships.”
Owens said he experienced that first-hand when he worked with Haley. Haley was the wide receiver coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2004 to 2006, where he coached Owens. According to the Hall of Famer, it wasn’t Haley’s work or credentials that earned him the role.
“There was a guy, Todd Haley, that I got coached by in Dallas,” he said. “And then he went on to Pittsburgh, he only got those jobs because of his dad. He wasn’t the best receiving coach I ever had, but he got that job.”
It’s an interesting point of view that Owens has. In their lone season of working together with the Cowboys, he was incredibly productive. He hauled in 85 receptions for 1,180 yards and a league-leading 13 receiving touchdowns.
To Owens’ credit, Todd Haley’s lineage did play a huge part in his NFL emergence. Haley’s father, Dick Haley, had an illustrious playing and executive career in the NFL. He most notably served as the Steelers’ director of player personnel between 1971 and 1990, helping to bring four Super Bowl titles to the organization in the 70’s.
Because of his father’s reputation and experience, it paved the way for Todd to get his first opportunities. His first NFL job was with the New York Jets in 1995, where he was hired as assistant in the scouting department.
The person who hired him? His father, Dick Haley, who was working as the Jets’ director of player personnel at the time.
From there, Haley had to bust his tail to work up the ladder. He had two stops as a wide receiving coach before getting his first offensive coordinator job with the Arizona Cardinals.
It was there that Todd Haley earned his reputation as an offensively gifted coach. The Cardinals offense was explosive during his two year tenure, including a spectacular run to Super Bowl 43.
He parlayed that into his first head coaching job with the Kansas City Chiefs. He worked there for three seasons before being fired, and that’s when the Steelers brought Haley in to assist Ben Roethlisberger and the team’s offense. Under his watch, the Steelers were an exciting offense. Nearly six years later, the team is still struggling to find that offensive output again.
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Pittsburg, PA
Steelers Have Weekly Plans for Justin Fields
The Pittsburgh Steelers have put their plan to increase quarterback Justin Fields’ involvement in motion, though it’s not yet a completely ironed-out component of the offense.
Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, Fields stated that the Steelers have a package in place for him every week, though it isn’t always clear how or when he’ll be utilized.
“I have a set package each and every week,” Fields said. “I think the play-calling is random to be honest with you. It’s kind of a feel thing with Arthur [Smith]. How I’m going to be used is a question for him honestly.”
After logging three snaps and rushing for 17 yards in Pittsburgh’s Week 11 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Fields saw his reps more than doubled to seven in a Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The highlight of the 25-year-old’s day was a 30-yard run in the fourth quarter that advanced the Steelers into Cleveland territory, with the drive resulting in a Jaylen Warren touchdown. Fields’ two other attempts on the ground went for a combined -4 yards.
Pittsburgh also put their trust in him through the air on a 3rd-and-4 play while up 19-18 with 3:34 left in the contest. On his first throw since Week 6, Fields targeted George Pickens down the field but couldn’t complete the connection, which brought on the punt unit.
The Browns scored on their ensuing possession before thwarting the Steelers’ final scoring attempt of the night to clinch the victory.
Russell Wilson, who went 21-for-28 with 270 yards and a touchdown, also shared his uncertainty as to how and when Fields would be inserted into games moving forward.
“I don’t know when it’s going to happen,” Wilson said. “Whenever it does, all I want us to do is win. When Justin gets in there I’m rooting for Justin to do great and make a big play. When I go back in, it’s vice versa. We’re always rooting for each other.”
The Steelers haven’t been quiet about their intentions to continue featuring Fields. While things didn’t shake their way against the Browns as they perfect those arrangements, it’s fair to assume they’ll continue to ramp up his participation as the season continues on.
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Wisconsin storms back against Pittsburgh to win Greenbrier Tip-Off
The Wisconsin Badgers are the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off champions.
Wisconsin, ranked No. 19 in the nation, improved to 7-0 by coming back from a double-digit deficit to defeat Pittsburgh (6-1) 81-75 Sunday evening in West Virginia. The comeback completed a sweep of the showcase, having defeated Central Florida in their first game of the tip-off on Friday afternoon.
John Tonje led the Badgers with 33 points. The star guard was 11-of-19 shooting and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. It’s his second 30-point game of the season; his first was a 41-point explosion in Wisconsin’s win over then-No. 9 Arizona on Nov. 15.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 20-8 lead nearly 10 minutes into the first half before the Badgers clawed back to within 34-27 at the half.
In the second half, Pittsburgh kept the Badgers at bay, leading 50-45 with 12:22 to go before Wisconsin went on a run and grew a lead to 71-64 with 4:15 remaining.
The Badgers have scored at least 79 points in all seven games this season, which is a program first.
Up next: Wisconsin vs. Chicago State, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. CT.
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