Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud was sent home by Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris earlier this week for an unknown reason.
McCloud will be inactive for Sunday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. It’s the second straight game that he’ll be inactive.
Morris described it as a private matter.
“I sent him home,” Morris said. “Excused absence — home. Working through some things right now that are private with my young man, and we’ll figure those things out as we go.”
Morris said McCloud being sent home has nothing to do with the fact that wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard was fired.
“This is between Ray-Ray, the organization and us and dealing with those things,” Morris said. “Nothing to do with that. It is just more a football thing and what we got to get straightened out.”
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reports that the McCloud and Hilliard are “close.” Hillard was McCloud’s receivers coach in Pittsburgh, as well.
Shortly after the firing of Hillard, McCloud said the 49-year-old receivers coach was the the best coach he’s ever had and the NFL “has no loyalty.”
McCloud signed with the Falcons on a two-year deal in March of 2024. He spent the two previous seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
McCloud was the 49ers’ primary punt returner and a contributing receiver. He averaged 10.8 yards per punt return and 23 yards per kickoff return for the 49ers in 2023. McCloud also caught 14 passes for 243 yards and ran four times for 78 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
McCould left the Steelers via free agency in March of 2022, landing with the 49ers on a two-year, $10.4 million deal. McCloud spent two seasons as the Steelers’ primary punt and kick returner, and also became an integral part of the offense.
In 2021, McCloud led the NFL in punt returns (38) and punt return yards. He averaged 9.7 yards per punt return and 22.2 yards per kickoff return, finishing in the top 15 in both categories. Offensively, he set a career-high in nearly every category, catching 39 of 66 targets for 277 yards. He also rushed twice for 15 yards.
Originally a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, McCloud spent one season in Buffalo and another with the Carolina Panthers. He was re-signed by Buffalo but waived before the 2020 season and caught on with Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers WR Sent Home by Head Coach: ‘Need to Straighten Things Out’
