Olsavsky joining Steelers’ staff

The former YSU linebackers coach will be the defensive quality control coach.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

PITTSBURGH —Ä Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has hired former Steelers linebacker Jerry Olsavsky as the team’s defensive quality control coach.

In his new position, Olsavsky will assist all areas of the defensive staff in their daily operations.

Olsavsky, 42, was drafted by the Steelers in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played linebacker with the team from 1989-97. He finished his playing career in 1998 with the Baltimore Ravens.

A Chaney High graduate, Olsavsky spent the past seven seasons coaching linebackers for Youngstown State. When Eric Wolford replaced Jon Heacock as YSU’s head coach in December, he did not retain any of Heacock’s assistants.

Prior to coaching at Youngstown State, Olsavsky spent one year as an assistant strength coach at University of North Carolina, and he also coached at Chaney and Duquesne University.

Olsavsky’s Pittsburgh roots extend back to his college days when he was named a first-team Kodak All-American as a senior in 1988 at the University of Pittsburgh. He became the Panthers’ first player since 1976 to record more than 100 tackles in three straight seasons.

Despite being considered undersized as a player, Olsavsky was known for being a fearless competitor and a tireless worker.

“I think a lot of people viewed me as just the guy next door,” Olsavsky said recently of his Steelers career. “I was not some superstar first-round pick, I was just a guy who could play football and I just happened to play for the Steelers.

“It really had a hometown feeling to it. It’s ironic that I spent 18 years in Youngstown growing up and the next 18 years in Pittsburgh,” Olsavsky said. “I really consider that my second home.”

He played in 108 games for the Steelers and made 227 tackles while also excelling on special teams throughout his career. During his time in Pittsburgh, the Steelers played in 11 postseason games including three AFC Championship Games at Three Rivers Stadium.

Olsavsky suffered a career threatening knee injury in 1993 then battled back to become a starter at inside linebacker. In 1995, Olsavsky returned to the starting lineup when Chad Brown was injured at midseason.

Olsavsky started in the January 1996 AFC Championship Game (a 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts) played most of Super Bowl XXX (a 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Tempe, Ariz.)