The Steelers have begun an external search for their new defensive coordinator. The first name on the list of desired candidates is Giants DC Patrick Graham, whom the team has requested an interview with (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). 
[Related: Steelers DC Keith Butler To Retire]
The news comes just one day after it was reported the team was expected to fill the vacancy internally. It was believed senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Teryl Austin, who had been in Pittsburgh for the past three seasons, would be promoted to DC, a position he had previously held with the Lions and Bengals. While he may still be hired, the team is clearly looking outside the organization as well.
Graham, meanwhile, has been with New York on two occasions. After seven years with the Patriots, he joined the Giants in 2016 as their defensive line coach. One-year stints in Green Bay and Miami followed – including, in the latter case, DC duties – before he came back to New York. His work with the Giants’ defense has earned him head coaching interest before, as he was on the Jets’ radar during the 2020 hiring cycle.
It is important to keep in mind that Graham will be interviewing with the Giants for their HC vacancy. While other names, such as Brian Daboll, Dan Quinn and Brian Flores are also in contention for the job, the fact that Graham is a candidate to take over in the Big Apple means the Steelers may have to keep looking for their next DC.
It’s also been reported Graham is open to staying on with the Giants as DC. Obviously that is also up to the new HC. Daboll running the offense with Graham continuing his work on defense would be nice though
I don’t know why people keep assuming Daboll is going to the Giants. If he wants a situation where he gets to mold a young QB with similar traits to Allen, Chicago is that destination. And he has plenty of jobs to consider.
People assume that because of Joe Schoen. Also while recent history hasn’t been great the Giants are considered a premier nfl franchise. Chicago fans still talk about the 85 bear whereas the Giants have gotten 4 rings since then. The Giants are also a team with a ton of returning injured players and two top 7 draft picks (thanks bears) so the team has huge potential for a nice improvement next year. I could easily see them go .500
Also Daboll is being interviewed today for the 2nd time by the Giants. He could have gone anywhere the day after the game but where is he . . .
‘If he wants a situation where he gets to mold a young QB with similar traits to Allen, Chicago is that destination.’
If he wants a situation where he has a say in actually *picking* who that young QB is, New York is that destination. Jones isn’t the answer, it’s just a question of whether they draft his replacement this year or in 2023.
Jacksonville is that spot
Nobody wants to go to Jacksonville
Shocked. Maybe there’s hope for the Steelers in that they are at least willing to look outside the organization before making their decisions
Maybe. Or maybe they’re just going through the motions to make it look like they’re open to bringing someone in from the outside.
The recent revelation that Tomlin has been calling defenses as far back as the last few years of the LeBeau era is such a bad look for Tomlin. To me he comes across as a control freak and as slightly devious (can you think of a good reason why he hasn’t ever just been up front about his calling the defenses, like most head coaches who also call plays have done?). I’ve been a solid Tomlin supporter, and in many respects I still am, but I’m now very skeptical that he is at all willing to bring in new and outside voices. And if any team needs to strongly consider trying some new approaches right now, it’s Pittsburgh.
I do like the fact that we have only had 3 coaches since 69, and I am also glad we are not like the browns with 5 coaches in 3 seasons, but there is a happy medium.
I think the fact that the Steelers have gone from a team that once had the likes of Arians, Haley, Whisenhut, Munchak and others as assistants to a team that literally draws no interest from other teams looking to fill vacancies or from prospective assistants speaks volumes.
There is a hard-headedness here that just leaves a lot of fans cold and soured me on Tomlin
Yeah, this request could be window dressing and nothing more. I actually expect everything to come from within the organization this off season, whether it’s front office, assistants or players.
And I’ll say it again: if the average fan can see the difference in style of play and personnel, just what is it that Steelers brass is missing.
Their o/line is horrible. Their d/line (save for Cam) is horrible. Their receivers are average, if that. Their linebacking corp is only 50%, and their secondary has Minkah, and nothing more
There isn’t a great deal of difference between this team and any bottom 5 team
Sounds like a spoiled fan. Steelers have been good to great for decades. This is a good team not a great one. You still got in the playoffs (barely granted) which 55% of the teams didn’t go to.
Spoiled fan. Yeah, I’ve been a fan since ‘70 but even so, I expect a Super Bowl run every year. Are you serious?
Do you watch games or are you too busy getting all dressed up in Steelers gear with face paint and standard Terrible Towel?
This is not a good team in any shape or form but go ahead and equate critique with being spoiled
Or Art Rooney could have required him to go outside for a DC. I agree with you that Coach MT doesn’t appear to surround himself with good people that other teams want to promote. Thier Oline is being rebuilt. But thier Dline is not horrible. Alualu and Tuitt is not their fault. Bad luck. They need to bring in at least one high end young talent on the Dline. A better Dline could help the MLBs. The secondary was ok. I’d be ok if they brought pack Edmunds and Witherspoon to go with Sutton and Minkah. They need a 5th CB.
There is no doubt Pittsburgh’s WR’s are average, their OL is horrible, their secondary has numerous holes, their ILB’s are below average, and their DL is aging, and has had injuries. BUT, their biggest issue, is that, they now have no QB, and there doesn’t look like much hope they will anytime soon. I don’t think they have any realistic chance to get a Russell Wilson, D Watson, D Carr, etc. I think the new Vikings staff definitely keeps Kirk Cousins, and now Tua won’t be available if Watson is not going to Miami(which it does not look like it is happening now). The QB’s in the draft are all sub par prospects imop. Their best avenue right now is just to tank, and try to be in position to get a franchise passer in the next draft. They might even need to consider trading someone like Cam to get good draft capital while he still can get them some. The worst thing they can do is get some stop gap QB like Bridgewater, Winston, or Mariotta, which just might make them good enough to be picking again in the middle of the 1st rd. Without a top half of the league QB, you just aren’t a real contender anymore. Just how I see it.