Former Steelers Assistant To Coach USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers

PITTSBURGH, PA — Kirby Wilson, a former running backs coach for the Steelers and many other teams, will be the head coach of the USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers when the revived league debuts in April.

Wilson, 60, was an assistant with the Steelers from 2007-13. His 24-year NFL coaching career also includes stints with the New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles (now Las Vegas) Raiders.

The USFL, owned and operated by Fox Sports, will reboot this season with eight teams. Each will be a legacy of original USFL franchises.

The Maulers will play in the North Division along with the Philadelphia Starts, New Jersey Generals and Michigan Panthers. The South Division will consist of the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers and Tampa Bay Bandits.

For at least the initial season, the spring football league will play all of its games in Birmingham.

The Maulers played one season in the original United States Football League in 1984. They were owned by shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, whose also owned the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Francisco 49ers.

Another former Steelers assistant, ex-offensive coordinator Todd Hayley, will coach the revived Tampa Bay franchise.

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