Amos Jones replaces Pittsburgh Steelers fired special teams coach Al Everest, staff scrutiny continues
The Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed they have sacked their special teams coach Al Everest and said that the evaluation process of coaching staff continues without indicating if job of any other official is on the line immediately after Everest’s exit.
Everest is replaced by his assistant, the special teams’ assistant coordinator Amos Jones. Neither the coach nor the Steelers have given a reason for the sudden release of the coach but an independent view is that it is performance of the Steelers' special
teams, which ranked in the bottom half of the league last season, that cost the official his job.
This season would have been 16th consecutive year of Everest as a special teams coach in the league. He for the most of his career has served the Steelers. The official has worked under head coach Mike Tomlin as his assistant staff member, twice.
Mike while confirming the release of Everest by the Steelers said they have continued the process of assessing their coaching staff but did not elaborate if any of his assistants should expect to meet a fate similar to the one Everest has met.
Steelers’ head coach said:
"We are continually evaluating our coaching staff and support staff, and we have decided to go in a different direction with respect to the coaching of our special teams.”
He added:
“I want to thank Al for his contributions and efforts, and I wish him well in the future."
Everest’s firing is another surprise move by the Steelers since controversial departure of former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who was forced to announce his retirement on the team’s refusal to extend his tenure, which was nearing its end this year.
Bruce came out of the so-called retirement within a week of it to join the Indianapolis Colts for a similar role to confirm his exit had not come in an amicable atmosphere. All fingers were pointed out at vice president Art Rooney II, who was also seen behind
signing of the team’s new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Everest has not been linked to a possible move to any other side in the league since his release, which nevertheless remains on the cards.
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