Steelers Eye Texas Tech’s C.J. Ah You for Key Defensive Coaching Role Under Mike McCarthy
The Pittsburgh Steelers are wasting no time shaping Mike McCarthy’s first coaching staff in black and gold, and one of their early targets is drawing attention from the college ranks. According to reports, the Steelers have interviewed Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You for a position on McCarthy’s inaugural staff - a move that signals Pittsburgh’s intent to infuse its defense with fresh ideas and proven production.
Ah You, 43, has built a strong reputation during his time in Lubbock. Since joining Texas Tech in 2022, he’s helped mold the Red Raiders into one of the stingiest defensive units in the country.
In 2025, Texas Tech finished third in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 11.8 points per game - a staggering stat in today’s offensive-heavy college game. They were also third in total yards allowed, first against the run, and second in takeaways.
That kind of defensive dominance doesn’t happen by accident.
Ah You even stepped up as interim defensive coordinator for the Red Raiders’ bowl game in 2024, further showcasing his leadership and schematic acumen. And if you’re wondering whether his players are translating that success to the next level - the answer is a resounding yes.
Four of his defensive standouts are currently ranked among the top 100 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. That includes edge rushers David Bailey (No. 8) and Romello Height (No. 44), defensive tackle Lee Hunter (No. 41), and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (No.
90). All four are homegrown products of that Texas Tech defense Ah You has helped shape.
Ah You’s coaching résumé is as diverse as it is intriguing. After a standout college career at BYU and Oklahoma - where he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2005 and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2006 - he was drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills in 2007.
Though he didn’t stick in Buffalo, he carved out a three-year NFL career with the St. Louis Rams, appearing in 33 games and tallying six sacks, 41 tackles, and a handful of quarterback hits and pass deflections.
He wrapped up his playing days in 2012 and quickly transitioned into coaching.
He returned to Oklahoma in 2015 to begin his coaching career under Bob Stoops, then spent three years coaching the defensive line at Vanderbilt. From there, he made a brief stop in the XFL with the New York Guardians in 2020, before joining USC as a quality control analyst in 2021. His jump to Texas Tech in 2022 marked a turning point - and now, it could be the springboard to his first NFL coaching opportunity.
For Pittsburgh, this potential hire fills a timely need. The Steelers currently have vacancies at both defensive line and outside linebackers coach under McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, with longtime assistants Karl Dunbar and Denzel Martin expected to depart. Bringing in someone like Ah You - who’s coached multiple front-seven positions and brings both NFL playing experience and recent collegiate success - could be a savvy move.
It’s early in the offseason, but the Steelers are clearly looking to blend experience with innovation as they retool their coaching staff. And C.J. Ah You might just be the kind of coach who can help usher in a new era for Pittsburgh’s defense - one built on speed, aggression, and a whole lot of disruption.