Bruce Arians

The Steelers have fired offensive line coach Larry Zierlein and told Bruce Arians he will be retained as the team's offensive coordinator, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Arians, who has a year remaining on his contract, had a long meeting today with Coach Mike Tomlin and was told he will return in that position in 2010.

Under Arians, the Steelers offense produced a 4,000-yard quarterback, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard running back in 2009 for the first time in franchise history.

Even though the running game improved this season from their Super Bowl season in 2008, averaging 112.1 yards per game, Zierlein was dismissed after Roethlisberger was sacked a personal-high 50 times this season.

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