New Steelers Defensive Coordinator Named 2026 Breakout Assistant Coach
This year marks a new era in Pittsburgh. The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down in January. McCarthy selected his new coaching staff during this offseason. He hired Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator. McCarthy is giving the 47-year-old free rein over the defense. This is a welcome change from the Tomlin era, as he was heavily involved in defensive decisions.
On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue named Graham as the Steelers’ breakout assistant coach. Rodrigue explained his reasoning. He stated, “That Graham, one of the more respected assistants in the NFL, with a schematic arsenal he didn’t get to use all that much as the DC of the embattled Raiders, took over a high-ceiling defense full of veteran players in Pittsburgh was one of the most underrated and exciting moves of the offseason.” He noted, “Graham has drawn interest for head coaching vacancies in the past, so perhaps he’s not technically a ‘breakout’ candidate, but a fresh reset in Pittsburgh could be huge.”
Rodrigue isn’t the only one who has confidence in Graham. During an appearance on the Steelers Standard podcast in June, former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams endorsed Graham. He said, “I love the guy. He’s a brainiac. He’s a genius, man. I used to watch his stuff when I used to break down film, when I was an assistant D-line coach. I was like, ‘Man, this guy really knows what he’s doing.’”
The 47-year-old has been coaching in the NFL since 2009. He previously served as defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and the Las Vegas Raiders. He was with the Raiders from 2022 until 2025. With Graham in charge of the Raiders defense, they ranked in the top 15 in multiple categories throughout the last four seasons. Graham has more talent to work with on the Steelers than he had during his recent tenure with the Raiders.
To say the Steelers defense struggled under Tomlin and former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is an understatement. The team ranked 26th in total defense for the 2025 season. They’re hopeful that Graham will help their defense make significant improvements. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to help the Steelers defense become elite in 2026.
