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Steelers adding three new coaches after Mike McCarthy hire

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 12:30 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers named Mike McCarthy their new head coach in a bit of a surprising decision after Mike Tomlin decided to step down.

McCarthy, 62, brings a lot of experience to the fold , and he is wasting no time adding veteran assistants to his staff. On Thursday, the Steelers added two new coaches, one being former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

Graham, whom @gerrydulac previously reported Pittsburgh was close to hiring, was the DC for the Giants and Dolphins before being hired by the Raiders in 2022.

Previously worked under McCarthy as his linebackers coach and run game coordinator in Green Bay in 2018.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 29, 2026

That isn’t the only hire, either.

The Steelers are also hiring James Campen, who worked with McCarthy in Green Bay, and another assistant as well, in a flurry of hires.

The #Steelers are set to hire veteran offensive line coach James Campen, sources tell @CBSSports.

Campen, an ex-NFL offensive lineman who made 50 career starts, was new Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy’s offensive line coach in Green Bay from 2007-18. pic.twitter.com/YIg0HeqVP2
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 29, 2026

Washington assistant Jason Simmons, who interviewed for the Steelers DC job, is expected to join the staff in a prominent defensive role, per sources. This would be a reunion for Simmons, Patrick Graham and Mike McCarthy from Green Bay.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 29, 2026

The Steelers coaching staff is undergoing a clean sweep. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith landed the OC job with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Former Steelers DC Teryl Austin and special teams coordinator Danny Smith were also let go, with McCarthy overhauling the staff.

Graham enters Pittsburgh with tons of experience. He was the Miami Dolphins DC in 2019, then spent two seasons as the New York Giants DC and assistant head coach before being named the Raiders DC in 2022.

Graham has also had multiple interviews for head coaching jobs over the past few years, so he is a big-name candidate whom McCarthy adds to the staff.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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