Saturday, January 16, 2010
Pagac to Steelers?
[url="http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/"]http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/[/url]

I'm hearing rumors that Richeyville native Fred Pagac is very interested in joining the Steelers staff - though that opportunity may have dried up when linebackers coach Keith Butler declined Miami's overtures to become the Dolphins defensive coordinator.

Pagac has been the linebackers coach for the Vikings the past four seasons and his contract is up at the conclusion of this season. I'm told he and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin are close from their days in Minnesota - where Tomlin was defensive coordinator for a season before joining Pittsburgh.

Pagac has coaching stops with Kansas City and Oakland in the NFL and was a longtime Ohio State assistant.

Would he possibly leave Minnesota to become specials teams coordinator for the Steelers? That's the only defensive opening the team currently has - outside of defensive quality control, a position he is overqualified for.