Ben Roethlisberger was devastated when the Steelers didn’t retain Bruce Arians as offensive coordinator after the 2011 season. They had a unique relationship. Arians said Roethlisberger was like a son to him and said he was Roethlisberger’s crazy uncle. The two made it to two Super Bowls together, three if you count the 2005 season when Arians was wide receivers coach.
That put new offensive coordinator Todd Haley in a tough spot. Roethlisberger was slow to accept change, perhaps even slower to accept him. But look at the two now. Roethlisberger is playing the best football of his Hall of Fame-caliber career. The Steelers offense has become the NFL’s best even without All-Pros Le’Veon Bell and Maurkice Pouncey and left tackle Kelvin Beachum.
Here’s what’s ironic:
Roethlisberger and Haley are so good together that Roethlisberger might be looking at another change after the season. It’s not a stretch to think Haley will get another shot at an NFL head job.
“He brings it up more than I do,” Haley said. “He’ll say, ‘I hear you’re going to wherever.’ I’m like, ‘No. I like it here too much.’ I’m having fun. This is a special place, special people, starting at the top. The head coach is a special, special person and coach. And there’s no place like Pittsburgh.”
Haley believes that. He grew up in Upper St. Clair. His father, Dick, worked for the Steelers for two decades in player-personnel, including the Super Bowl years of the 1970s.
But that doesn’t mean Haley wouldn’t leave for another head coaching job. He was head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-11, leading the team to a division title in 2010, the greatest single-season turnaround in franchise history. He was fired late in the 2011 season after a 5-8 start, although many in Kansas City believe general manager Scott Pioli should have been let go. That Chiefs front office has been described as highly dysfunctional.
“I was grateful for the opportunity and proud of what we did,” Haley said last week. “Obviously, I would have liked to have finished the job.”
Former NFL head coaches often get a second chance, especially after they’ve stepped down and been successful as a coordinator. Who is a hotter assistant than Haley? The Steelers have averaged nearly 36 points and 529 yards the past four games. They’ll be tested today in Cincinnati by a Bengals defense that ranks first in the NFL in points allowed (16.3 per game). When the teams played Nov. 1 at Heinz Field, Roethlisberger threw three interceptions in a 16-10 loss in his first game back after missing four with a knee injury. He should be much better today.
“Physically, I don’t know of anyone in the league who can match him,” Haley said. “When you put that with the mental game, his preparation. … What’s important to me is you see the ball coming out fast over and over and over again — even on deep balls. That’s why I get calls from people around the league raving about how he’s playing.”
Roethlisberger’s relationship with Haley plays a big part.
“I think that we’re understanding each other,” Roethlisberger said. “We’re understanding what each other is thinking.”
It took time.
“He’s as competitive of a guy as there is. I’m the same way,” Haley said. “I think we’re similar personalities. When I meet new people, I don’t let many in right out of the gate. It wasn’t going to happen overnight.”
Now, it’s almost as if Roethlisberger and Haley can finish each other’s sentences. They think the game the same way. Haley knows what Roethlisberger likes best and does best. Roethlisberger knows the offense inside and out.
“One of the things that told me we were making huge progress was him getting up in front of the offense at the tail end of two years ago and saying, ‘This is our offense. It’s not my offense. It’s not Todd’s offense. It’s our offense,’ ” Haley said.
“I’m such a big believer in that. We preach that. I tell the coaches all the time, ‘It doesn’t matter whose idea it is. Let’s just have the best idea.’ In this business, I don’t know if that’s done enough. People will lose to be right all of the time. It’s just too much work and effort and sacrifice to go out there and not give yourself the best chance to win over little things that really don’t matter.”
Roethlisberger says Haley “puts his ego aside” when it comes to play-calling. Haley has grown comfortable allowing Roethlisberger to run the no-huddle offense and call the plays. Roethlisberger said, overall, the two probably divide the play calls 50-50.
“The nice thing is coach Haley has given me the freedom to be able to change any play that he calls if we are in the regular system,” Roethlisberger said. “We put the work in together during the week on the no-huddle. We all take pride in this offense.”
That’s what makes it work so well, Haley said.
“Take DeAngelo Williams. When you go to a starting running back in a game in which you’re throwing it a bunch in Seattle and you ask him if he wants to get back into the run game, he says, ‘No, coach, they can’t stop us. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing.’ The line says the same thing. Take Darrius Heyward-Bey. He’ll come up and push for someone else to run a certain route to get the ball. It’s a unique, special group.
“Like I’ve said, Mike T. has the best gig in the league.”
Don’t underestimate the importance of the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship.
“I think we just keep growing and getting better together,” Roethlisberger said.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: December 13, 2015, 5:00 a.m.