PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's been presumed Teryl Austin would take over as Steelers defensive coordinator after Keith Butler retired. After The New York Post reported Austin interviewed to be the Giants defensive coordinator on Saturday, NFL Network reports the Steelers will make the Pitt grad their defensive coordinator..
In his first year with the Steelers in 2019, Austin improved the secondary to second in the NFL in interceptions and interception rate, plus third in yards per play, passes defensed and pass defense overall. The Steelers defense ranked fifth overall and fifth in scoring defense. Steelers were second in the NFL in takeaways and tied for first in interceptions in 2020. They were fourth in forced fumbles, but dropped to 15th in interceptions and 22nd in scoring average in 2021.
Turnovers are associated with Austin's defenses, top five in the NFL while a defensive coordinator for three seasons at Detroit.
Austin spent a failed year as defensive coordinator of the Bengals in 2018. He was also a defensive backs coach with the Ravens, Cardinals and Seahawks appearing in a pair of Super Bowls.
The Sharon, PA native and Pitt starting safety for three years was defensive coordinator at the University of Florida in 2010, finishing fourth in the nation with 22 interceptions. Austin started his coaching career as a graduate assistant under former Steelers secondary coach Tom Bradley at Penn State. He also coached at Wake Forest, Syracuse and Michigan.
