James Daniel is in his 16th season coaching tight ends for the Steelers. Daniel, who was hired on January 24, 2004, remained with the team following Mike Tomlin’s hiring in January of 2007.
Vance McDonald (50), Jesse James (30) and Xavier Grimble (86) combined for 86 receptions during the 2018 season under Daniel’s tutelage. McDonald became the first Steelers tight end to haul in 50 catches in a season since 2015 (Heath Miller) and eclipse 600 receiving yards since 2014 (Miller). In the team’s Week Two Monday Night win at Tampa Bay, McDonald established a single-game career high 112 receiving yards on four catches – marking the first 100-receiving yard game of his NFL career and becoming the second Steelers tight end since 1960 to have at least 100 receiving yards in the first half of a game (Eric Green, 1991).
The Steelers’ tight ends unit of Grimble, James and McDonald combined for five touchdown receptions during the 2017 season. James recorded the first multi-scoring game by a Steeler tight end since 2012 in Week One of 2017, and set single-season career highs for receptions (43) and receiving yards (372) while matching a personal-best of three touchdown catches. McDonald, in his first season with Pittsburgh, caught 10 passes for 112 yards in the team’s AFC Divisional Playoff game, setting Steeler postseason records for a tight end in a playoff game.
The 2016 season marked Daniel’s first time coaching the tight ends group without Steelers’ great, Heath Miller, since Daniel’s first season with Pittsburgh in 2004. Ladarius Green, Xavier Grimble, Jesse James and David Johnson all combined for six receiving touchdowns, but it was in the run game where the group excelled. The tight end unit’s blocking helped pave the way for the Steelers’ offense to rush for 1,760 yards, including 1,268 from Le’Veon Bell.
Under Daniel’s guidance, Miller became one of the top pass catchers in franchise history. Miller, who retired on February 19, 2016, left the Steelers as the team’s all-time leader in receptions (592), receiving yards (6,569) and receiving touchdowns (45) by a tight end.
Overall, Miller ranks third in career receptions, fourth in receiving yards, fifth in receiving touchdowns and sixth in scrimmage yards (6,577) in Steelers’ annals. Miller is one of 15 tight ends in NFL history to reach 6,000 career receiving yards during the regular season.
In 2015, Miller recorded 500 receiving yards for the ninth straight season to become just the second player in team history to accomplish that feat (Hines Ward). Also in 2015, he became just the second player in team history (Ward) to record at least one reception in 100 straight regular-season games played (Miller, 103).
Miller became the first tight end to ever be selected as team MVP in 2012, the same season he earned his second Pro Bowl selection. Miller earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2009, the same season he set the team’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end (76).
In 2007, Daniel groomed a young group of tight ends that finished the season with 11 receiving touchdowns, which are the most combined receiving touchdowns of any Steelers’ tight end corps in team history.
During his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003), Daniel was instrumental in the development of Pro Bowler Alge Crumpler. Daniel began his NFL coaching career as the tight ends coach of the New York Giants from 1993-96. However, Daniel’s first experience in the NFL came through the NFL’s Fellowship Program in 1988 with the New Orleans Saints, and in 1992 with the Denver Broncos, who were led by Head Coach Dan Reeves. Daniel served under Reeves for his first 11 years in the NFL.
He began his coaching career in the college ranks as the offensive line coach at Auburn University (1981-92) for Head Coach Pat Dye. During Daniel’s 12 years at Auburn, the Tigers appeared in nine postseason bowl games, four of his linemen earned All-America honors and several were selected All-SEC.
Prior to Auburn, Daniel coached for seven years at Enterprise High School (Enterprise, Ala.) from 1974-80. During his tenure, 11 of his offensive linemen earned college scholarships.
A native of Wetumpka, Ala., Daniel was a three-year starter (offensive guard) and four-year letter winner at Alabama State University from 1970-73. Daniel is married to Myrtis.
1974-1980
Enterprise High School (Enterprise, Ala.)
Offensive Line
1981-1992
Auburn University
Offensive Line
1993-1996
New York Giants
Tight Ends
1997-99, 2001-03
Atlanta Falcons
Tight Ends
2000
Atlanta Falcons
Offensive Line
2004-2019*
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight Ends*
