Redskins Special Teams Coach Danny Smith Takes Same Job With Steelers
Washington Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith took the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers today. Smith is from Pittsburgh, so the move makes sense for the longtime Redskins director of the special teams unit.
Smith has been with the Redskins since 2004 and was the last remaining Redskins coach from the Joe Gibbs (part 2) era.
In Jan. 2011, he declined an offer to join Denver head coach John Fox’s new staff with the Broncos, a source said at the time. Smith has long been favored by high-ranking Redskins executives, as well as his players. Since that time he has been pursued heavily by several other teams including Pittsburgh each off-season.
The Redskins’ kickoff coverage unit ranked 18th in the NFL in 2012 with an opponents average starting field position of the 22.1-yard line. Washington’s kickoff return unit ranked 26th with an average starting field position of the 20.6-yard line.
Washington’s punt coverage unit ranked eighth in the NFL (8.2 yards per return), and the punt return unit ranked 17th (9.3).
The search will now begin for Smith’s replacement.
