Ben Steele is in his 17th season coaching and 11th in the NFL after joining Arizona's staff on 3/1/23 as tight ends coach. He came to the Cardinals from Denver after working as the Broncos assistant offensive line coach in 2022.
With the Cardinals last season, second-year TE Trey McBride had one of the best seasons in franchise history by a TE, leading the team in receptions (81) and receiving yards (825) while also adding three TDs. His 81 receptions set a new franchise record for a TE and his 825 receiving yards were the second-most in team history by a TE. McBride also had two games of 100+ receiving yards last season after it hadn't been done by a Cardinals TE in the past 34 years and had two games with 10+ receptions, a first in team history for a TE.
Arizona finished the season 4th in the NFL in rushing yards (2,365) and 2nd in rushing average (5.02) while leading the league with four games of 200+ rushing yards. The 2023 season marked just the second time since 1970 – and first time in 44 years – the Cardinals finished a season ranked in the top-5 in the league in rushing yards (3rd in 1979). It was the fourth-most rushing yards in a single-season in Cardinals history and the second-best rushing average in team annals.
Prior to coaching in Denver in 2022, Steele spent one season (2021) as the assistant offensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings following two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons where he was an offensive assistant (2019) and tight ends coach (2020). Steele entered the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and worked for three seasons (2014-16) as an offensive quality control coach before coaching tight ends for two years (2017-18).
During his time in Minnesota, Steele helped mentor an offensive line that paved the way for RB Dalvin Cook and WR Justin Jefferson to produce 1,000-yard rushing and receiving seasons and QB Kirk Cousins to throw for over 4,000 yards and 33 TDs. All three were named to the Pro Bowl in 2021, as was Vikings RT Brian O'Neill, who earned his first career Pro Bowl selection that season. Behind an offensive line that allowed the fifth-fewest sacks in the NFL (30), the Vikings offense was one of just three (Dallas, Cincinnati) to feature a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher.
During his tenure in Atlanta, Steele coached TE Austin Hooper to his second Pro Bowl after catching 75 passes for 787 yards and six TDs in 2019. TE Hayden Hurst had a career-high 56 receptions for 571 yards (10.2-yard avg.) and six TDs in 2020.
In 2021 the Falcons were 6th in the NFL passing attempts, 2nd in passing yards and 3rd in total TDs while the team ranked 4th in passing attempts and 5th in passing yards in 2020. Steele entered the NFL with the Buccaneers where he spent five seasons (2014-18), including his final two years overseeing tight ends. While coaching tight ends in 2018, he helped TEs Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard combine for 64 receptions, 865 receiving yards and 11 TDs.
Before entering the NFL coaching ranks, Steele spent six seasons at the collegiate level. He worked at the University of California-Davis as the tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator (2013) and as an offensive assistant at the University of California from 2011-12. Steele spent two years at the University of Colorado as an operations & recruiting assistant (2009) and as a graduate assistant (2010). He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Mesa State, as an offensive assistant in 2008.
Steele played tight end in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted rookie free agent with San Francisco in 2001. Following a stint with the Frankfurt Galaxy NFL Europe in 2002, he spent time with the Vikings during training camp in 2003 and 2004 before appearing in 17 career regular season games and one postseason contest with Green Bay (2004-05) where he had four receptions for 42 yards and a fumble recovery.
He played two seasons collegiately at Fort Lewis College (1997-98) before finishing his career at Mesa State University (1999-2000). As a senior at Mesa State, Steele received All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors.
A native of Denver, CO, Steele graduated from Mesa State with a bachelor's degree in Communications with an emphasis in Broadcasting. He and his wife, Rachel, have three daughters: Cora, Theresa and Elise; and two sons: Creed and Luke.
