By Brian Kopycinski
All eyes are on Indiana football after Pittsburgh-born head coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza led the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship this past season. Cignetti, a former signal-caller with the West Virginia Mountaineers, had coaching stints at Pitt and IUP before arriving in Bloomington. Mendoza is undoubtedly the greatest quarterback in program history. Not far behind in Hoosier lore is a name familiar to Steelers fans and anyone tracking the current coaching carousel: Antwaan Randle El.
The Chicago-area native was a three-sport standout in high school. Drafted by his hometown Cubs in the 14th round of the 1997 MLB Draft, he seriously considered a pro career but chose Indiana, where he played baseball, basketball (under legendary coach Bob Knight), and football. In his first start as Indiana’s quarterback in 1998, Randle El threw for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns while rushing for 82 yards and 3 more scores in a victory over Western Michigan.
He had an outstanding freshman season despite the Hoosiers’ 4-7 record in the Big Ten, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. His sophomore year was even better, throwing 17 touchdowns against 7 interceptions with 2,227 passing yards, plus 788 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground. As a junior, he rushed for a personal-best 1,270 yards. Randle El was one of college football’s most dynamic playmakers, becoming the first Division I quarterback to pass and rush for 40 touchdowns each in a career. Yet Indiana never posted a winning record during his tenure.
In his senior year, he led the team to a 5-6 record, including wins over #22 Michigan State and rival Purdue. He finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting (won by Nebraska’s Eric Crouch) and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and conference MVP. The Steelers selected him in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft as a wide receiver.
At Indiana, Randle El also contributed as a punter and returner, showcasing his versatility. In the NFL, he became a slot receiver/hybrid who thrived on gadget plays, drawing comparisons to Kordell Stewart. As a rookie, Randle El caught 47 passes for 489 yards and 2 touchdowns, added 134 rushing yards, and starred on special teams with 733 kick return yards and a 99-yard touchdown against the Bengals in Week 6.
2004 was a special year for Pittsburgh. They drafted Ben Roethlisberger, finished 15-1 to win the AFC North, and reached the AFC Championship to face the Patriots. Randle El posted 601 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns with the Steelers that season. In the loss to New England, he caught three passes for 52 yards. Fans thankfully wouldn’t have to wait long for another deep playoff run.
After finishing the 2005 regular season 11-5, Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati handily in the Wild Card round before an iconic Divisional win over Indianapolis. Randle El caught a 6-yard TD from Roethlisberger in the first quarter and added four catches for 52 yards in the AFC Championship victory over Denver. His defining moment came in Super Bowl XL.
With Pittsburgh leading Seattle 14-10 in the fourth quarter, he took a handoff from Willie Parker on a trick play and threw a 43-yard touchdown to Hines Ward, one of the more memorable plays in Super Bowl history. Ward earned MVP honors with 123 yards and that score. The Bus went out on top, and Coach Cowher finally got his ring. Randle El also returned two punts for touchdowns that season and was named First-Team All-Pro as a punt returner.
He signed with Washington that offseason, where he remained a reliable pass catcher and return man. The 2007 Redskins made the playoffs at 9-7, and Randle El scored a TD in their loss to Seattle. After four productive years with Washington, he returned to Pittsburgh at age 31, now lower on the depth chart behind Mike Wallace and Hines Ward.
Heath Miller remained a favorite target of Big Ben’s. The Steelers also drafted two notable receivers that year, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. In his final season (2010), Randle El caught just 22 passes for 253 yards amid reduced return duties. The Steelers won the AFC North again and reached the Super Bowl but fell to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay 31-25. Randle El had two catches for 50 yards in the game.
He sat out 2011 and retired in 2012 but stayed connected to the game of football. After a stint as athletic director at Ashburn’s Virginia Academy, he joined the Buccaneers as an offensive assistant in 2019, contributing to their Super Bowl LV win with Tom Brady. He then spent four seasons as wide receivers coach with the Detroit Lions, mentoring stars like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in a high-powered offense.
Now, Randle El serves as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for his hometown Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson. With things trending upward in Chicago, his name has surfaced as a candidate for many coaching vacancies league-wide. While an OC role seems more immediate, don’t rule out a head coaching job. He’s only 46, with a proven track record as a developer of talent.
As a player, Randle El was nothing to sniff at, an accomplished college star who seamlessly transitioned to wide receiver and excelled in a unique role. Always a threat with the ball in his hands, he’ll forever be linked to that iconic Super Bowl trick-play TD. Pittsburgh will always hold a special place in his football journey. Perhaps one day he’ll return to help the Steelers chase another Lombardi.