Isaac Williams is entering his fourth season as the Steelers' assistant offensive line coach in 2025. He was hired by Pittsburgh on March 15, 2022.
The running back group was assured of being a big part of every game plan under first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in 2024. That proved to be the case, as only the Eagles and Ravens ran the ball a higher percentage than the 52.1 the Steelers posted in 2024.
Najee Harris led the way with 263 carries for 1,043 yards and six TDs. He also caught 36 passes for 283 yards. It was Harris' fourth-consecutive 1,000-yard season to open his career, making him just the 14th player in league history to do so.
The Steelers selected three offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, taking tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round, center Zach Frazier in the second and guard Mason McCormick in the fourth, one year after the selection of Broderick Jones in the first round and Spencer Anderson in the seventh.
The Steelers started four different line combinations in the first six games because of injuries, but Meyer mentored Frazier with being if not the best rookie offensive linemen in the NFL in 2024, then most certainly the best center.
McCormick moved into the starting lineup at right guard when James Daniels suffered a season-ending Achilles' tendon injury and played well, particularly showing his chops as a run blocker.
Williams aided a unit that blocked for the tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, each of whom eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2023. Harris and Warren were the fourth duo in franchise history to eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards in the same season and first since Walter Abercrombie and Earnest Jackson in 1986. Abercrombie and Frank Pollard also accomplished the feat in 1985, as did Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier in 1976.
Harris and Warren each rushed for 750 yards last season. The duo was the first pair of Steelers' running backs to each rush for 750 or more yards in the same since season 2004 (Jerome Bettis, 941; Duce Staley, 830).
Harris is the only player in the NFL to register 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last three seasons. He is also the first player in franchise history to record 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. Harris' three 1,000-yard rushing seasons are tied for the third-most in franchise history (Le'Veon Bell, Willie Parker).
In his first year with the Steelers, the run game improved from ranking 24th in the League through the first half of the season, to finishing third-best after Week 10.
Williams came to Pittsburgh after collegiate stints at North Carolina Central University (2021), Morgan State (2018-20) and Northern Colorado (2016-17), where at each stop, he worked with the offensive line.
In 2021, Williams guided an offensive line that helped the NCCU register its first three-game win streak and first winning season since 2017. The Eagles finished second in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) with a 4-1 league record. Williams also tutored a pair of all-conference selections.
Prior to North Carolina Central, Williams spent three seasons (2018-20) working in the MEAC as an offensive line coach/run game coordinator at Morgan State.
While the Bears did not compete in 2020 due to COVID, Williams developed All-MEAC tackle Joshua Miles in 2019, who participated in the East-West Shrine game and participated in the NFL Scouting Combine. Miles, who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, was the first Morgan State player drafted since Visanthe Shiancoe in 2003 (N.Y. Giants).
Williams was a four-year starting offensive lineman and three-time captain at Alcorn State (2008-11). He earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior, and graduated with honors. Williams played one season with the Laredo Rattlesnakes of the Arena Football League in 2013. A defensive end and center, Williams helped the Rattlesnakes to the League's best record.
Williams earned his bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics from Alcorn State University in 2012, and then earned his master's degree in education leadership from the University of Northern Colorado in 2017.
Williams has also coached at Millsaps College, Clinton High School (Mississippi) and Sumner Hill Jr. High School (Mississippi).
