The Pittsburgh Steelers are poised to promote Teryl Austin to defensive coordinator, according to ESPN and NFL Network reports Sunday.
Austin would replace Keith Butler, who retired last month after spending the past seven seasons as defensive coordinator.
Austin, 56, is a Sharon native and Pitt graduate. He spent the past three seasons as the team’s senior defensive assistant/secondary coach. He became the top internal candidate when Butler retired.
The Steelers are known to have interviewed former New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard.
The Giants, who recently hired Brian Daboll as head coach, sought permission to interview Austin over the weekend for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Graham held the job before leaving to accept the same job with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Austin joined the Steelers in 2019 after being a defensive coordinator at his previous two stops — Cincinnati in 2018 and Detroit from 2014-17.
When Lions head coach Jim Caldwell was fired after the 2017 season, Austin interviewed for the position that went to Matt Patricia. When he was passed over for that job, Austin moved on to Cincinnati in Marvin Lewis’ final season as head coach. Austin, though, was relieved of his duties in November when the Bengals became the first NFL team to give up at least 500 yards in three consecutive games.
