If I didn't know any better, I'd think the Green Bay Packer coaching staff had been slowly trying to gain a competitive advantage against the Pittsburgh Steelers by stockpiling personnel for their coaching positions that are either from the area or have spent considerable time with the Steelers organization. Consider the following:
- Head Coach Mike McCarthy is a native of Greenfield and coached for four years at the University of Pittsburgh (quarterbacks and wide receivers, following a "volunteer coach" position).
- Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and coached at Allegheny College in the early 1990's.
- Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers led the Steelers defense from 1992-1994, earning Assistant Coach of the Year in 1994.
- Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements was born in McKees Rocks, PA and held the same position with Pittsburgh from 2001-2003, including Kordell Stewart's 2001 Pro Bowl season.
- Tight Ends coach Ben McAdoo is from Homer City, PA and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania; he spent the 2003 season as an offensive assistant at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Outside Linebackers coach Kevin Greene played linebacker for the Steelers for three years, including 1995 when the Steelers would lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl, their only such loss.
- Defensive Quality Control coach Scott McCurley was born in New Castle, PA, attended Mohawk H.S., and lettered four years at the University of Pittsburgh, earning a scholarship after walking on to the team.
- Safeties coach Darren Perry attended Penn State and played for the Steelers for the majority of his career before joining the Pittsburgh coaching staff for four years in 2003; like Greene, Perry played for the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
- Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Slocum spent the 1990 season as a graduate assistant with the University of Pittsburgh, serving on the same staff as McCarthy.
That's an impressive collection of Pittsburgh-based talent. And in case you were wondering, the reverse of this phenomenon exists as well; Pittsburgh Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau spent four years coaching in Green Bay in the late 1970's.