The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t waste any time shaking things up this offseason. In the wake of Mike Tomlin’s surprising resignation, the organization moved swiftly to bring in a new voice at the top - hiring former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy to take the reins. And now, McCarthy has made his first major move as the Steelers' head coach, tapping a familiar face to lead the defense.
The Steelers officially named Patrick Graham as their new defensive coordinator, confirming the hire Friday night. Graham, who spent the last four seasons as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, reunites with McCarthy after previously working under him in Green Bay back in 2018. At the time, Graham served as the Packers’ linebackers coach and run game coordinator - a role that gave McCarthy a firsthand look at his defensive acumen.
That prior connection clearly played a role here. McCarthy, stepping into a new environment in Pittsburgh, is leaning on a coach he knows and trusts to help shape the Steelers’ next chapter. Graham brings not only familiarity, but also a reputation for crafting disciplined, aggressive defenses - something Steelers fans have long embraced as part of the team’s identity.
This move gives Pittsburgh a clear direction on defense, but the offensive side of the ball remains a work in progress. With Arthur Smith no longer in the picture, McCarthy’s next big task is finding the right offensive coordinator to bring balance to the coaching staff. That decision will be pivotal, especially with the Steelers facing several looming questions on the roster heading into the 2026 season.
For now, though, McCarthy and the Steelers have taken a significant first step in building their new era - and it starts with a defense that’s now in the hands of a coach who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.