Pittsburgh Steelers legend Hines Ward is no longer coaching in professional football after his tenure as the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL came to an end.
In a surprising development within the XFL, Ward, who had been among the seven new head coaches in the league last year, has been replaced by former Houston Roughnecks head coach, Wade Phillips, according to a report by James Larson of USFL Newsroom and Pro Football Network.
Ward was appointed as the head coach of an XFL team in June of 2021 and was assigned to the San Antonio club in July of the following year. However, his leadership lasted only one season, concluding with a 3-7 record that fell short of playoff contention by a single game.
Prior to his role in San Antonio, Ward held coaching positions with the New York Jets and Florida Atlantic Owls as an assistant coach. Additionally, he spent the 2017 season with the Steelers as an offensive intern.
A former third-round pick for the Steelers from Georgia, Ward enjoyed a stellar career with four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2001 to 2004 and consistently achieved 1,000 or more receiving yards in each of those seasons. Ward, who retired in 2012, remains hopeful for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and since his retirement, no Steeler has worn his No. 86 jersey.
