Steelers quickly name rising star assistant to be their running backs coach

All eyes are on the Pittsburgh Steelers as new head coach Mike McCarthy arrives in the Steel City. This is, of course, only the fourth head coach the Steelers have had since 1969, making it a historic moment in the NFL. To make things even more interesting, the Steelers did something even rarer by hiring a head coach at 62 years old.

McCarthy comes to Pittsburgh with a wealth of experience, having coached in the NFL since 1993. His 18 seasons as a head coach also give him a significant advantage in building out his new staff in Pittsburgh. He was hired because he presented a clear plan to hire the right personnel around him, an approach that excited Steelers team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.

Now, Steelers fans are eager to see exactly how this coaching staff shapes up. On Thursday, they got more information when respected Dallas Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr. shared on social media that McCarthy is bringing one of his former Cowboys coaches onto his staff. Former Cowboys offensive line coach Ramon Chinyoung has joined the Steelers with a new title.

"Former Cowboys offensive line coach Ramon Chinyoung has joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as the running backs coach under Mike McCarthy, per source," Hill said. "Congrats to Chinyoung."

This move means Chinyoung will replace former running backs coach Eddie Faulkner on the staff. The quick decision signals how confident McCarthy is in bringing in familiar and trusted coaches as he builds out his new group in Pittsburgh.

Chinyoung will now get the opportunity to work closely with second year running back Kaleb Johnson, along with veteran Jaylen Warren. There is also the possibility of working with Kenneth Gainwell, depending on what the Steelers decide to do with him in free agency.

Steelers' Mike McCarthy knows exactly how he wants to build out his staff

It is an exciting group of running backs, and Chinyoung’s experience as an assistant offensive line coach only adds to the intrigue. McCarthy clearly trusts him and values his presence on the staff, and he wasted no time making sure he was part of the Steelers organization.

All of this reinforces one clear takeaway: McCarthy knows exactly how he wants to build out his coaching staff in Pittsburgh. He is prioritizing experience, trust and familiarity, while surrounding himself with coaches who fit his vision and can immediately contribute. 

As the rest of the staff continues to take shape, it is evident that McCarthy has a defined plan in place, and the Steelers are fully committed to letting him execute it.