The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their move at the top, bringing in Mike McCarthy as their next head coach. Now comes the next phase: building out the staff that will shape this team’s identity moving forward. And on the defensive side of the ball, one name is starting to gain traction - Patrick Graham.
According to reports, Graham is a candidate to watch for the Steelers' defensive coordinator role. He has history with McCarthy, having worked under him in 2018 with the Green Bay Packers as the linebackers coach and run-game coordinator. That familiarity could go a long way as McCarthy looks to assemble a staff he trusts.
Graham brings plenty of NFL experience to the table. He broke into the league back in 2009 with the New England Patriots and has since served as a defensive coordinator for three different teams - the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and most recently, the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the Raiders, Graham held the DC role for four seasons, navigating a carousel of head coaching changes along the way. While the results weren’t always eye-popping, it’s worth noting that talent - or a lack thereof - was often a limiting factor.
Still, Graham’s defenses have had their moments. His 2020 Giants unit and 2023 Raiders defense both finished ninth in points allowed, and that same Giants squad ranked 10th in rushing yards given up.
Across seven seasons as a defensive play-caller, those are the only three top-10 finishes on his résumé.
What’s notably missing is a top-tier pass defense under his watch - something that might raise eyebrows in a league increasingly defined by aerial attacks. But Graham’s experience and his connection to McCarthy offer a level of continuity and trust that could appeal to Pittsburgh’s new regime.
If the Steelers are indeed leaning toward established, veteran coaches - as the McCarthy hire suggests - Graham fits the mold. He’s been around the league, he's weathered the ups and downs, and he knows what it takes to coordinate a defense in high-pressure environments.
Would this be a flashy hire? Probably not.
But it could be a pragmatic one. And given McCarthy’s track record of surrounding himself with familiar faces who know his system and expectations, Graham makes a lot of sense as a candidate to help steer the Steelers' defense into a new era.