Former Steelers DL Nick Eason Joins Clemson Coaching Staff

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Nick Eason has joined the coaching staff at Clemson, the program announced Friday.

Eason will serve as the Tigers’ defensive run game coordinator and defensive tackles coach.

“Nick is the epitome of what I look for in a coach,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He has an incredible passion for the game, he has got a great background and he truly loves the player. In this hire, I really wanted a guy who had great experience at the NFL level. I wanted somebody who has coached the best of the best at the highest level, and that’s exactly what he’s done. He was a great player at Clemson and he’s a great Clemson man.”

Prior to his decade in the NFL, Eason was a four-year letterman at Clemson. He recorded recording 15 sacks and 30 tackles-for-loss in 47 career games. Eason was a team captain and earned All-ACC honors.

“To have this opportunity to come back to Clemson is a blessing from God. It is a dream for most coaches to have the opportunity to coach at your alma mater and that is the case for me,” Eason said. “I want to thank Coach Swinney for the opportunity to be a part of a program with such a rich tradition, one that has become one of the best in the nation… I am looking forward to working with one of the best defensive lines in the country.”

In addition to his four years in Pittsburgh, Eason also spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals during his 10-year NFL career. He was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, but missed his entire rookie season with an Achilles injury.

Eason totaled 132 combined tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and seven sacks for his career. He won Super Bowl XLIII with the Steelers.