Ex-Steelers OL Coach Mike Munchak Considering a Comeback

Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Ex-Steelers OL Coach Mike Munchak Considering a Comeback

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak is reportedly looking to get back into coaching after a two-year hiatus. He specifically would like to return to the Tennessee Titans as their offensive line coach, according to Zach Piller of The Zone in Nashville. Munchak was a Hall of Fame guard for the Houston Oilers in the 1980s/1990s and a longtime offensive line coach for Tennessee. He was also the Titans head coach from 2011-2013.

After 22 years with the Titans/Oilers organization, Munchak returned to his home state and coached the Steelers’ offensive line from 2014-18. Munchak is from Scranton and starred at Penn State. Munchak accepted a lateral position with the Denver Broncos in 2019 to be closer with family. His two daughters and his grandchildren live in Denver or Southern California.

The Broncos parted ways with head coach Vic Fangio after the 2021 season, which left Munchak out of a job, as well. He’s been out of coaching since, but longtime Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky confirmed Piller’s report that Munchak wants to coach again. He caught wind of it back in early December.

“I learned this in early December when Mike Vrabel was still head coach. Munchak, who lives in the Denver area and hasn’t worked since a three-year term with the Broncos that concluded in 2021, said if Vrabel had an opening he would be interested in that. He’d also consider a handful of other select openings around the league based on head coaches and geography,” Kuharsky wrote.

Due to back-to-back losing years, the Titans fired Mike Vrabel after the season. Vrabel had early success in Tennessee, however, which is why he’s a hot commodity for numerous vacant head coach positions. Maybe Munchak would join Vrabel if the location made sense. Or he might just want to return to Nashville and coach the Titans again. Kuharsky believes that Munchak would not feel any awkwardness about returning to the Titans after having been fired as their head coach, as that move was made by Tommy Smith, who is no longer connected to ownership. His sister-in-law, Bud Adams’ daughter, Amy Adams Strunk now runs the team.

Tennessee is expected to hire Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their next head coach, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Callahan would be wise to bring Munchak aboard. Munchak is one of the best offensive line coaches in the league and a legend in the Titans/Oilers organization. If it’s an ideal fit for Munchak, it’s a no-brainer.

As Kuharsky noted, Munchak would consider a handful of other select openings around the league based on head coaches and geography, as well. Munchak is from Pennsylvania and has a close relationship with Mike Tomlin, so a reunion with the Steelers could be in play.

Pat Meyer has done OK in his two seasons as the Steelers’ offensive line coach, but he hasn’t really been anything to right home about. The unit has excelled in the run game at times, but overall, they’ve been a pretty inconsistent group. If the opportunity is there, it would be behoove of Tomlin to bring Munchak back. He clearly would be an upgrade over Meyer.

The Steelers had an elite offensive line under Munchak in the mid-2010s. Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Alejandro Villaneuva all heaped praise of Munchak’s innate ability to coach and develop talent. The Steelers got solid play from their guards in 2023, but Broderick Jones needs to be further developed, and an offensive tackle and center is expected to be selected in the draft this year. Munchak would be the ideal candidate to help mold them.