There are multiple reports that Teryl Austin will be the next defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While he may end up being a good coach for Mike Tomlin, the head coach’s track record isn’t necessarily encouraging.
“Right now, Mike Tomlin deserves absolutely zero benefit of the doubt in hiring assistants because of how they recently worked out,” said The Fan Morning Show’s Colin Dunlap.
Colin and Chris Mack went through a list of current and former assistants.
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Canada (jury is out, but not looking good).
Retiring Defensive Coordinator: Keith Butler (revealed Tomlin called the defensive plays).
Former Offensive Coordinator Randy Fichtner (was promoted multiple times from the inside, taking over OC after Todd Haley left, was fired after 2020 season).
Former Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley (Had success, but seemingly not able to work with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and even Tomlin).
The way former Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau left (apparently wasn’t calling defensive players toward the end of his time in Pittsburgh).
Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians “retiring” (Arians exposing Roethlisberger to a high number of sacks upsetting the front office. His contract was not renewed and he “retired” but of course now is the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Offensive Line coach Adrian Klemm (left before the end of this past season for the same position at the University of Oregon).
Former Outside Linebackers coach Joey Porter (Dunlap says he never seemed to make people better, “he was just Mike Tomlin’s friend, he got in trouble off the field”).
Former Defensive Backs coach Carnell Lake (left in early 2018, his departure was explained as leaving to be with his youngest son’s final year of high school football).
Former Defensive Backs coach Tom Bradley (Just couldn’t cut it in Pittsburgh after a long stint at Penn State).
Former Offensive Line coach Shaun Sarrett (didn’t last long with Steelers)
Former Wide Receivers coach Scottie Montgomery (Supposed to be a protégé who Tomlin talked about at first but then just cycled out of the organization after three seasons).
Former Running Backs coach Kirby Wilson (Left Pittsburgh for the same job with Minnesota. He was recently named the Head Coach and General Manager of the revived Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL).
Wide Receivers Ike Hilliard (currently with the team, he hasn’t seemingly made any receivers better).
As Dunlap says, Austin may be a great coach, but “Just in Mike Tomlin’s tenure, it really hasn’t gone well with assistant coaches.”