Former Special Teams Coach Al Everest Says Firing Was a “Shocker”

Former Steelers special teams coordinator Al Everest said his firing “was a shocker,” but he declined Friday to discuss why he and the team parted ways with only two preseason games remaining according to Alan Robinson of the Tribune-Review.

“It was professional differences, and let’s leave it at that,” Everest said Friday. “It was professional differences.” But he also added, “It was a shocker.”

Everest did not see the firing coming and was still coming to grips with it Friday, following an evening spent mostly calling relatives, friends and acquaintances in the NFL. He plans to stay in coaching, but said it was much too early to think about where he might coach next.

While he would not discuss details, Everest did say it had nothing to do with the decision to take Pro Bowl returner Antonio Brown off the kickoff and punt return teams. Brown significantly upgraded the Steelers’ return units last season, averaging 10.8 yards on punt returns and 27.3 yards on kickoff returns.

After the Steelers signed him to a $42.5 million contract extension, they clearly did not want to risk losing one of Ben Roethlisberger’s main targets to a special team’s hit.

Mike Tomlin has also declined to comment on the firing.