Frank Cignetti Jr. is in his first season with the Steelers as a senior offensive assistant and 12th in the NFL. Cignetti, respected for his offensive scheme and mentorship of quarterbacks, brings over three decades of coaching experience to this position.
Previously, Cignetti spent the 2025 season at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), as the offensive coordinator. While at IUP, Cignetti improved the offense from the 2024 to 2025 seasons in multiple categories: total offense, passing yards/game and points/game. After transitioning to more of an aerial attack, quarterback Mathew Rueve registered 3,338 yards and 31 TDs. Wide receiver Devin Whitlock recorded 927 receiving yards and six TDs. The Crimson Hawks finished the season 7-4, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, their first postseason appearance since 2022.
Prior to IUP, Cignetti was the offensive coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh from 2022-23. Under his tutelage, Cignetti produced a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in 2022.
Israel Abanikanda was the ACC rushing champion with 1,431 yards and led the nation in scoring (11.6 points/game), total TDs (21), and rushing TDs (20). Abanikanda, named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports and ESPN, was selected by the N.Y. Jets in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver Jared Wayne enjoyed the highest production of his career, compiling 1,063 yards on 60 catches, and was named All-ACC. Wayne signed with the Houston Texans.
From 2020-21, Cignetti led the Boston College offense. He held the title of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks. Under his guidance, he saw two players achieve their dreams of making it to the NFL. Tight end Hunter Long, who earned All-America honors and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and wide receiver Zay Flowers, a three-time All-ACC honoree and first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Prior to Boston College, Cignetti spent seven seasons in the NFL, specifically working with quarterbacks. He worked with the St. Louis Rams (2012-15), N.Y. Giants (2016-17) and Green Bay Packers (2018).
While in Green Bay, he worked with now four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 4,442 yards and 25 TDs against only two interceptions. Rodgers' yardage marked the second-highest of his career, while his INTs were his lowest as a starter.
With the Giants, during the 2016 season, the team went 11-5 as Eli Manning achieved the second-highest completion percentage (63%) of his career. Manning was one of only six NFL quarterbacks that season to compile at least 4,000 passing yards, 25 passing TDs and a 63.0 completion percentage.
Cignetti returned to the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the St. Louis Rams (2012-14). He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2015. In 2015, he orchestrated one of the League's top rushing offenses as Pro Bowler Todd Gurley gained 1,106 yards – third most in the NFL – and was named Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Overseeing the Rams' quarterbacks, Cignetti helped Sam Bradford, when healthy, achieve some of the best production of his career. In 2012, Bradford enjoyed a breakthrough season as an NFL starter by throwing for 3,702 yards and 21 TDs. He was on a similar trajectory in 2013 – ranking among the League leaders in passing yards, passing TD and completions – before injury ended his season after seven games.
In 2011, Cignetti served as the offensive coordinator for the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl champion Rutgers, where under his guidance, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu compiled a school and Big East record 115 receptions.
From 2009-10, Cignetti was Pitt's offensive coordinator under Dave Wannstedt. During the 2009 season, that unit finished 10-3 and ranked No. 15 in the final polls. The Panthers' offensive arsenal included a 1,700-yard rusher in Dion Lewis and a 1,000-yard receiver in Jon Baldwin. Moreover, quarterback Bill Stull ranked among the nation's most efficient passers (No. 10 nationally, 150.6 rating), throwing for more than 2,600 yards and 21 TDs. Lewis was named the Big East's 2009 Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Tight end Dorin Dickerson, who caught 10 TDs that season, earned first-team All-America honors. For his impact, Cignetti was a nominee for the prestigious Broyles Award.
Cignetti spent one season with California (2008) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In 2007, Cignetti headed to San Francisco to coach the 49ers' quarterbacks unit.
In 2006, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for North Carolina.
For four seasons (2002-05), he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Fresno State. His unit twice finished among the nation's top 10 in scoring and third-down conversions during Cignetti's tenure. They were also a perennial postseason team, advancing to four consecutive bowls, including victories over power conference foes Georgia Tech, UCLA and Virginia.
His 2004 Fresno State offense ranked among college football's most explosive. The Bulldogs averaged 40.2 points – the fifth-highest scoring clip in the country – en route to a 9-3 record and No. 22 final national ranking.
In 1999, Cignetti got his first taste of the NFL. He held the title of quality control for the Kansas City Chiefs and then quarterbacks with the Saints from 2000-01.
From 1990-98, Cignetti was on his father's staff at IUP, where he was an all-conference safety before earning his bachelor's degree in 1988. He served IUP as receivers, secondary and quarterbacks coach before elevating to offensive coordinator for his final two seasons. During his tenure, IUP twice advanced to the NCAA Division II national title game and earned a berth in the semifinals four times.
He began his coaching career with the Panthers as a graduate assistant on Mike Gottfried's staff in 1989.
Cignetti comes from a family of coaches. His father, College Football Hall of Fame inductee Frank Sr., was a Pitt assistant from 1966-68 and later the head coach at both West Virginia (1976-79) and Indiana University of Pa. (1986-2005). His brother, Curt, was also a Pitt assistant (1983-84 and 1993-99) who now is the head coach of Indiana University.
Born Oct. 4, 1965, in Pittsburgh, Pa., Cignetti attended Indiana Area High School in Indiana, Pa. Cignetti was an all-conference safety at IUP. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1988.
He and his wife, Ellen, have one son, Frankie, and three daughters, Alyssa, Gabrielle, and Ella.
