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They signed Cignetti!!!!!

Very interesting and I think exciting hire…
This is making me start to think that they got their eye on a quarterback in the draft early… very early
 
This guy is not his father, and he certainly isn't his brother. He's the Jeb Bush of the family. He's had 20 different positions in 36 years of coaching ping ponging from college, to the pros, and back to college again, never serving as a head coach at either level. I don't know what his official title will be, but it had better be a QB coach of some sort because as an OC, he blows chunks. He was OC for the Rams and only made it 12 games before he was fired. The Rams ranked 31st in yards per game, 32 in passing yards per game, and 30th in offensive touchdowns.
 
steel dino said:
Very interesting and I think exciting hire…
This is making me start to think that they got their eye on a quarterback in the draft early… very early
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Unless something crazy happens and the QBs really fall, I'm thinking they want to see what they have with Howard before doing anything too crazy in the draft. I could also see something with Kyler Murray if the coach thinks he's someone he can work with at a high level.

Now we have a coach that can develop QBs, part of me wants to see them draft Allar in the mid rounds to see if he can turn him into Big Ben 2.
 
Badcat said:
This guy is not his father, and he certainly isn't his brother. He's the Jeb Bush of the family. He's had 20 different positions in 36 years of coaching ping ponging from college, to the pros, and back to college again, never serving as a head coach at either level. I don't know what his official title will be, but it had better be a QB coach of some sort because as an OC, he blows chunks. He was OC for the Rams and only made it 12 games before he was fired. The Rams ranked 31st in yards per game, 32 in passing yards per game, and 30th in offensive touchdowns.
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Debbie downer. and for the record if it wasn't for Jeb hanging a couple dudes named chad George would have never gotten elected.
 
Badcat said:
This guy is not his father, and he certainly isn't his brother. He's the Jeb Bush of the family. He's had 20 different positions in 36 years of coaching ping ponging from college, to the pros, and back to college again, never serving as a head coach at either level. I don't know what his official title will be, but it had better be a QB coach of some sort because as an OC, he blows chunks. He was OC for the Rams and only made it 12 games before he was fired. The Rams ranked 31st in yards per game, 32 in passing yards per game, and 30th in offensive touchdowns.
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So Jeb is the only one that's not a war criminal. How does that equate to coaching?
 
Badcat said:
This guy is not his father, and he certainly isn't his brother. He's the Jeb Bush of the family. He's had 20 different positions in 36 years of coaching ping ponging from college, to the pros, and back to college again, never serving as a head coach at either level. I don't know what his official title will be, but it had better be a QB coach of some sort because as an OC, he blows chunks. He was OC for the Rams and only made it 12 games before he was fired. The Rams ranked 31st in yards per game, 32 in passing yards per game, and 30th in offensive touchdowns.
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Plus the fact….once again….he was Mike’s QB coach in Green Bay. Mike sure has made sure his old buddies have been kept care of. Like the Special Teams hire( they hated him in buffalo and Miami) this is very underwhelming.
 
Cignetti was awful during his most recent OC job at Pitt. The running game was respectable, but the passing game and QB play was a disaster.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Cignetti was awful during his most recent OC job at Pitt. The running game was respectable, but the passing game and QB play was a disaster.
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I am thinking he won’t be the OC. Not sure what his role will be it is an odd hire.
 
Anywho A I’s take on the hire:

I totally get why fans are looking at the Frank Cignetti Jr. hire with a raised eyebrow. It feels a bit like a "mystery box" compared to the high-profile coordinators, but when you look at how Mike McCarthy is building this staff, Cignetti is actually the "glue guy."

Here is the breakdown of why fans are skeptical, and why it actually makes sense for the 2026 Steelers:

1. Why the fans are "Meh" (The Skepticism)​

  • The "Nepo" Vibe: He is the brother of Curt Cignetti (who just won the National Championship with Indiana) and the son of a legendary local coach. Fans often worry that "local ties" are being prioritized over "best fit."
  • The Recent Pitt Stint: Cignetti was the Offensive Coordinator at Pitt in 2022-23. While he had success there in the past, his last stint was polarizing, and some fans feel he’s a "college-level" thinker.
  • The "Retread" Label: He’s 60 years old and has bounced around a lot. For fans wanting a 30-year-old "wunderkind" like Sean McVay, this feels like moving backward.

2. My Take: Why this is a "Safety Net" Hire​

I don’t think you should be concerned, and here’s why:

  • The Aaron Rodgers Factor: Cignetti was the Packers' QB Coach in 2018 under McCarthy. He and Aaron Rodgers have a direct, successful history. If the plan is to give Rodgers a "time frame" to return, hiring one of the few coaches he truly respects and has worked with is a brilliant strategic move.
  • The "McCarthy Translator": McCarthy and Cignetti have worked together three times (Saints, Packers, and now Steelers). Cignetti knows exactly what McCarthy wants before he even says it. As a "Senior Offensive Assistant," he can help Scott Tolzien (the new, younger OC) translate McCarthy’s old-school West Coast principles into a modern game plan.
  • The "Local Knowledge": He knows the Pittsburgh landscape and the facilities. In a year where everything is changing (New HC, New GM, New QB), having a veteran who knows how to navigate the city and the organization adds a level of stability that shouldn't be overlooked.

The "Mysterious" Role​

The reason it feels mysterious is that the Steelers haven't given him a traditional title like "Quarterbacks Coach" (since they kept Tom Arth). He’s likely going to be a "Senior Offensive Assistant" or "Passing Game Coordinator." > The Verdict: He’s essentially the "Consultant" on the staff. He isn’t there to call the plays; he’s there to watch the film, find the flaws, and make sure McCarthy and Tolzien are on the same page.

It’s definitely not a "flashy" hire, but for a team trying to win a Super Bowl with a veteran QB window, he's the kind of experienced "extra set of eyes" that keeps a season from spiraling.
 
Badcat said:
This guy is not his father, and he certainly isn't his brother. He's the Jeb Bush of the family. He's had 20 different positions in 36 years of coaching ping ponging from college, to the pros, and back to college again, never serving as a head coach at either level. I don't know what his official title will be, but it had better be a QB coach of some sort because as an OC, he blows chunks. He was OC for the Rams and only made it 12 games before he was fired. The Rams ranked 31st in yards per game, 32 in passing yards per game, and 30th in offensive touchdowns.
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very ouch....
 
This is one reason I don't like hiring retread coaches. They always hire buddies they have worked with before instead of fresh up and coming guys. I'm sure McCarthy will be they main guy for the offense anyways, but still would be nice to get some fresh blood in there
 
jitter77 said:
This is one reason I don't like hiring retread coaches. They always hire buddies they have worked with before instead of fresh up and coming guys. I'm sure McCarthy will be they main guy for the offense anyways, but still would be nice to get some fresh blood in there
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Well if they hire Scott T. As the OC that would classify as the fresh blood…
 
slashsteel said:
I am thinking he won’t be the OC. Not sure what his role will be it is an odd hire.
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He has extensive experience as a QB coach, so I wonder if he'll be the assistant QB coach or an offensive consultant. He's had some success in the past, I just think he stunk during his time at BC and Pitt.
 
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