Report: Steelers Requested to Interview Giants Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put in a request to interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their vacant position, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler retired on Saturday, giving the Steelers a vacancy for their top defensive assistant for just the second time since Mike Tomlin became head coach in 2007.

Graham, 43, spent the last two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator with the New York Giants under recently fired coach Joe Judge. The Giants finished the 2021 season tied for 11th in yards per play allowed, 21st in yards allowed and 23rd in pots allowed.

But Graham’s experience also includes connections to some of the hottest coaching trees in the NFL. Before his time in New York, he was the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator under Brian Flores in 2019. In 2018, he was linebackers coach and run game coordinator for Mike McCarthy in Green Bay. He was defensive line coach for the Giants in 2016 and 2017, working under now-Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Graham got his NFL start working with the New England Patriots. He started as a coaching assistant for Bill Belichick in 2009, and was promoted to defensive assistant in 2010, linebackers coach in 2011 moved to defensive line coach in 2012 and then back to linebackers coach in 2014 for two more seasons.

A Yale alum, Graham coached collegiately at Wagner, Richmond, Notre Dame and Toledo before getting his NFL break. Graham played defensive line for the Bulldogs, but moved directly into coaching after his graduation.

Graham is the first outside candidate connected to the Steelers’ open defensive coordinator position. Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reported on Saturday that Steelers senior defensive assistant Teryl Austin is not only a candidate, but expected to be hired for the position.