Can Patrick Graham reignite a struggling defense? With established stars, the Steelers aim for a turnaround under their new coordinator's proven track record.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense was a huge disappointment in 2025, a vastly underachieving unit despite having likely Hall of Famers at each level.
The Steelers were 26th in total defense and 29th in pass defense. Pittsburgh was still good enough to win its first AFC North title since 2020 with a 10-7 record, but former coach Mike Tomlin expected “historic things” from a unit that included defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt, and defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
The task of fixing the defense falls to new coordinator Patrick Graham. The Steelers came to terms with him on a contract on Thursday, two days after Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach. Graham brings experience to Pittsburgh, having served as a defensive coordinator in the NFL for the past seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2019), New York Giants (2020-21), and Las Vegas Raiders (2022-25).
Though the Raiders’ 3-14 record was the worst in the NFL this season, they were 14th in the league in total defense under Graham. In his seven seasons as a DC, Graham’s defenses have finished in the top half of the league four times. However, those units haven’t ranked higher than 12th by the 2020 Giants.
Graham, 47, has spent 17 seasons as a defensive assistant in the NFL, starting with a seven-year stint with the New England Patriots from 2009-15 that included a Super Bowl victory in 2014. He moved on to the Giants for two years, then was the Packers’ linebackers coach/running game coordinator in 2018, the season in which McCarthy was fired as Green Bay’s head coach after 12 games.
Graham began his coaching career at the collegiate level with Wagner (2002-03). He also had stops at Richmond (2004), Notre Dame (2005-07), and Toledo (2008) before moving to the NFL.
Graham played collegiately at Yale from 1999-2002 as a defensive lineman and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Graham replaces Teryl Austin, who spent the past four seasons as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator. Pittsburgh was 13th, 21st, and 12th in total defense in Austin’s first three years before cratering in 2025.
Washington Commanders pass game coordinator and former Steelers defensive back Jason Simmons was the only other candidate interviewed for Austin’s old job. Though the Steelers hired Graham, Simmons is expected to be on their coaching staff in some capacity.
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