Steelers Add Familiar Face to Offensive Staff with Frank Cignetti Jr. as Senior Offensive Assistant
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reshaping their offensive staff heading into the 2026 season, and they’re doing it with a name that carries both local roots and deep NFL experience. Frank Cignetti Jr. is officially joining the team as a senior offensive assistant, giving the Steelers another veteran mind in the room as they try to reboot their offense.
Cignetti’s addition isn’t just about filling a spot - it’s about layering experience between newly hired offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio and returning quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. With Mike Tomlin’s staff undergoing a transition, this move brings a familiar, steady hand to the offensive side of the ball.
At 60 years old, Cignetti brings a resume that spans college football and the NFL. Most recently, he was the offensive coordinator at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), but his coaching journey includes stops at Pitt, Boston College, the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints - with a consistent focus on developing quarterbacks.
And make no mistake: Cignetti knows quarterbacks. He’s spent the bulk of his career in that lane, guiding signal-callers at nearly every stop.
His NFL experience includes being the quarterbacks coach for the Giants from 2016-17 under Ben McAdoo, another IUP alum, and a stint with the Packers in 2018 when he worked under Mike McCarthy. That connection with McCarthy goes way back - the two were graduate assistants at Pitt in 1989 and later crossed paths again in New Orleans, where Cignetti coached quarterbacks while McCarthy ran the offense.
This hire also continues a trend under McCarthy, who’s been bringing in coaches with ties to Pittsburgh or with whom he’s worked before. Cignetti checks both boxes.
He was born in Pittsburgh, graduated from Indiana Area High School, and played at IUP - the same school where his father, Frank Cignetti Sr., was a legendary head coach from 1986 to 2005. His brother, Curt Cignetti, made headlines recently by leading Indiana University to a perfect 16-0 season and a national title.
So yes, the Cignetti name carries weight in Pennsylvania football circles - and now, it’s back in the NFL spotlight with the Steelers.
For Pittsburgh, this move adds another layer of experience to a staff that’s clearly being built with chemistry and familiarity in mind. With Angelichio taking over the offense and Arth continuing to work with the quarterbacks, Cignetti’s role as a senior assistant could be pivotal - especially when it comes to mentoring young passers and helping to install a new offensive identity.
It’s not a flashy hire, but it’s a smart one. Cignetti brings decades of institutional knowledge, a deep understanding of quarterback play, and a long-standing connection to the region. As the Steelers look to turn the page and get their offense back on track, having a coach like Cignetti in the building could make a real difference.