Steelers Eye Youth and Experience in Offensive Line Coaching Overhaul
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making moves to reshape their offensive line coaching staff, and they’re doing it with a blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent. While reports indicate that longtime NFL offensive line coach James Campen is set to take the reins in Pittsburgh, the team isn’t stopping there. They’ve also requested interviews with two rising assistants: Ramon Chinyoung of the Dallas Cowboys and Jahri Evans of the New Orleans Saints.
Let’s unpack what this could mean for the Steelers' offensive identity moving forward.
A Veteran Anchor in Campen
Bringing in James Campen signals a clear intent: the Steelers want a steady, experienced hand guiding their offensive line. Campen has been around the league long enough to know how to build cohesion up front, and his track record speaks for itself.
But what’s intriguing here is that Pittsburgh may not be looking at him solely as a position coach. There’s buzz that Campen could take on a broader role-possibly as a senior offensive assistant, assistant head coach, or even run-game coordinator.
That kind of title would open the door for the Steelers to promote younger coaches into more prominent positions.
Rising Stars: Ramon Chinyoung and Jahri Evans
Enter Chinyoung and Evans-two coaches who may not have long NFL résumés, but who bring fresh energy and promising upside.
Chinyoung has been climbing the coaching ladder quickly. After spending a decade coaching high school football in Texas, he broke into the NFL in 2022 as a quality control coach under Nathaniel Hackett.
From there, he joined Mike McCarthy’s staff in Dallas and stayed on under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in 2025. That kind of trajectory suggests a coach who’s earned trust and respect quickly-two things that matter when developing young offensive linemen.
Then there’s Jahri Evans. Steelers fans may remember him as a dominant guard during his playing days, mostly with the Saints, and briefly with McCarthy’s Packers in 2017.
Now, he’s building a second act as a coach. Since joining the Saints’ staff as an intern in 2022, Evans has worked his way up to assistant offensive line coach.
His Hall of Fame finalist status for the Class of 2026 underscores just how respected he is in football circles-not just for what he did on the field, but for the knowledge he brings to the meeting room.
A Strategic Reshuffling
What makes this coaching pursuit so interesting is how the Steelers are structuring it. By potentially giving Campen a more senior title, they create space to elevate either Chinyoung or Evans to the official offensive line coach role.
That’s a strategic play. It allows Pittsburgh to bring in young coaching talent without forcing them to make a lateral move-something that’s often a dealbreaker in NFL coaching circles.
The Steelers are clearly aiming to build a more robust and experienced coaching staff under Mike McCarthy than they had during the final years under Mike Tomlin. And this trio-Campen, Chinyoung, and Evans-offers a compelling mix of wisdom, relatability, and modern coaching sensibilities. If the front office can pull it off, Pittsburgh’s offensive line could be in very capable hands for years to come.
This isn’t just about filling positions-it’s about building a coaching pipeline. And if the Steelers get this right, it could be a foundational move for the next era of Steelers football.