The New York Giants have requested permission to interview Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant Teryl Austin for their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Austin has also been identified as a candidate for the Steelers’ defensive coordinator vacancy. The team cannot restrict Austin from interviewing for a higher-level position unless they wish to promote him beforehand. Austin is considered to be the frontrunner to replace retired Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler, and is the only internal candidate that has been identified.
Externally, the Steelers have spoken with former New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Dallas Cowboys assistant Joe Whitt Jr. and New Orleans Saints assistant Kris Richard. Graham was reportedly hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as their defensive coordinator on Friday.
Austin has been with the Steelers since 2019 as the senior defensive assistant and secondary coach. Before that, he was a defensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions. He has long ties to the Pittsburgh region. A Sharon, Pa. native, Austin was a three-year starting defensive back at Pitt. After one year of pro football, he got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Penn State in 1991.
Other reported candidates for the Giants opening include former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. Teams are required by the NFL’s Rooney Rule to interview at least two external minority or female candidates for coordinator positions.