The Steelers interviewed previous Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their DC role last month. Less than 24 hours after Graham’s decision to leave for Las Vegas, the Giants met with Mike Tomlin‘s top defensive assistant.
Steelers secondary coach Teryl Austin met with the Giants about their DC position on Saturday, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post tweets. Austin is a familiar face to the Giants, having interviewed for their HC job in 2016, and could have a higher-profile role with the Steelers as well.
Austin looms as an option to succeed Keith Butler as Pittsburgh’s DC, although the organization has continued to interview candidates after a report surfaced indicating Austin was on track to land the gig. Austin joins ex-Ravens DC Don Martindale and former Bears DC Sean Desai as Giants DC interviewees thus far. Brian Daboll had hoped to retain Graham as Big Blue's defensive play-caller, but the Raiders — now run by ex-Graham Patriots coworkers Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler — poached him Friday.
Formerly a defensive coordinator in Detroit and Cincinnati, Austin began his NFL career in 2003 but was a college staffer for more than a decade before that. The 56-year-old assistant was once a regular on the HC interview circuit; his last such meeting came in January 2018.
Austin has worked as the Steelers’ secondary coach, while assisting Mike Tomlin in game management, since 2019. With Tomlin having taken over the Steelers’ defensive play-calling role last season, the Giants — who recently hired an offensive-minded HC in Daboll — would offer greater responsibility.
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