Steelers hire Patrick Graham as Mike McCarthy's D-coordinator - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers hired former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for the same role in Mike McCarthy's staff, the team announced Friday afternoon.

Graham, who arrived in Pittsburgh late in the week for an in-person interview, spent the last four seasons as the Raiders' defensive coordinator, but he was also a member of McCarthy's Green Bay Packers staff as the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for McCarthy's final season in 2018.

That season, the Packers ranked 16th in rushing yards per game allowed (116.3) and 11th in rush yards per attempt (4.2).

Prior to that, Graham learned under Bill Belichick and Brian Flores in New England as a defensive assistant in various roles from 2009-15 before spending two seasons as the New York Giants' defensive line coach under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2019) and returned to the Giants as the DC under Joe Judge from 2020-21.

The Raiders ranked 13th in yards allowed (317.8) in 2025 and 25th in points per game (25.4). The Raiders were also 18th in rushing yards per game (116.8) and 29th in completion percentage allowed (68.51%).

Graham's defense, though, was a top-10 unit in 2023, ranking ninth in points allowed (19.5) after checking in at 26th a year earlier. In his introductory press conference, McCarthy said he wanted the Steelers to remain in a 3-4 defense and build off the foundation already in place. Graham has experience coordinating both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses.

«I feel good about the direction,» McCarthy said Tuesday, adding that he «loves the roster.» «I'm really excited about the defense.… Defense wins championships. The history of the Steelers defense