Falcons Interview Steelers Assistant for Defensive Coordinator Job
The Atlanta Falcons are interviewing Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown for their defensive coordinator opening on Friday, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Brown served as the defensive coordinator at the 2023 Senior Bowl, and has been seen as a potential rising star in the coaching ranks. This is the first time Brown has interviewed for an NFL defensive coordinator position.
Brown has been with the Steelers as the team’s secondary coach since 2021, overseeing the acquisition and development of young players such as Joey Porter Jr., Cory Trice and Beanie Bishop.
Before his time with the Steelers, Brown spent the 2020 season as the defensive coordinator at McNeese State, but did not coach in a game, as their season was delayed due to COVID-19. He was the co-defensive coordinator at Old Dominion in 2019, and before that was a position coach at Louisville, South Carolina and Souther Miss.
Brown also previously coached at Alabama State, Birmingham Southern, and Alabama A&M and was an NFL intern with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Brown was a defensive back at Alabama A&M from 1995-98 and went on to play in the Arena Football League.
The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake this week after just one season with the team. In addition to Brown, they have interviewed or are scheduled to interview Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ullrich, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Green Bay Packers defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley and former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.