PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Reports the Steelers are close to locking up the biggest piece of the new coaching staff under Mike McCarthy. Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, among others, reporting the Steelers have their sights on Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
The 47-year-old was McCarthy’s linebackers coach in his final season with Green Bay in 2018. He started his NFL career with New England after two seasons as a graduate assistant with Notre Dame, under Charlie Weis. With Bill Belichick and the Patriots he started as a coaching assistant in 2009 and coached linebackers and defensive line. He worked with other defensive coaches Brian Flores, Matt Patricia and Dean Pees.
After his one season with the Packers he was the Miami defensive coordinator in 2019 and then the Giants defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for two seasons. Graham was Josh McDaniels’ defensive coordinator with the Raiders and through coaching changes in Las Vegas, Graham remained.
The last three seasons with the Raiders, Las Vegas was 15th, 15th and 14th in total defense. The last two seasons, 25th in points and previously was a career-best ninth in points against in 2023.
Last year his defense, with the second-lowest defensive payroll in the NFL, gave up 30 points or more seven times. It gave up 41 points to Washington and 40 points to the Colts.
The 2025 Raiders defense was led by Maxx Crosby with 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, six passes defensed and an interception. Linebacker Devin White with 174 tackles (11 tackles for loss), safety Jeremy Chinn was second with 114 tackles in 15 games. Former Steeler Elandon Roberts had 90 tackles (six tackles for loss). Las Vegas had only eight interceptions, 18th in sacks with 37.