The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line will hopefully get a big boost this season with the hiring of new offensive line coach Mike Munchak, but he’ll also have some help during training camp in a form of a very familiar face.
Former Steelers center Jeff Hartings is serving as a coaching intern this summer with the team. The Penn State product played six seasons with the Steelers from 2001-2006 and during that time he garnered two Pro Bowl nominations and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2004.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert knows all about Hartings as he was not only responsible for signing him as a free agent in 2001, he also scouted him when he was with the Detroit Lions.
Hartings was originally drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played five seasons with the Lions before signing with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent in 2001.
After training camp is over, Hartings might not be retained permanently, but the Steelers young offensive linemen should certainly benefit from his experience over the course of the next several weeks.
