Patrick Graham at NY Football Giants Training Camp in 2016. — Tom Hanny
With their next head coach in place, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have to fill out a staff of assistants under Mike McCarthy. An experienced coach has emerged as his possible defensive coordinator.
“Been hearing former Giants and Raider DC Patrick Graham’s name as a possible defensive coordinator for Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh,” Giants reporter Art Stapleton wrote Monday morning on X. “Graham was with McCarthy in Green Bay.”
Graham, 47, spent the last four seasons as the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive coordinator. He held the same role for the Giants from 2020-21 and the Miami Dolphins in 2019. He was the linebackers coach/defensive run game coordinator under McCarthy with the Packers in 2018 after working as a defensive line coach with the Giants from 2016-17.
Graham began his coaching career by learning from Bill Belichick from 2009-15, as a coaching assistant, defensive assistant, defensive line coach and linebackers coach.
Other coaches Graham has worked for are Pete Carroll, Brian Flores, Joe Judge, Ben McAdoo, Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce.
With Graham running the show, the Raiders ranked No. 19 in yards allowed and passing yards allowed, No. 24 in takeaways and No. 16 in rushing yards allowed.
Teryl Austin had served as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. This time around, Pittsburgh ranked No. 7 in yards allowed, No. 4 in passing yards allowed and takeaways and No. 20 in rushing yards allowed. Austin talked to the Washington Commanders about their defensive coordinator opening last week.
Mentioned In This Article: Bill Belichick Las Vegas Raiders Mike McCarthy New York Giants Patrick Graham Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers