The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering 2026 with a new face at the topâand an unmistakable sense that something deeper is being reshaped behind closed doors.
Mike McCarthyâs arrival as head coach marks a definitive break from the past. After years of continuity under Mike Tomlin, the organization is no longer tweaking around the edges. Itâs starting over.
And while much of the public focus has remained on the quarterback position and the lingering question of Aaron Rodgersâ future, the most revealing moves may be happening quietly on the defensive side of the ball.
According to multiple league insiders, the Steelers are nearing a final decision on their next defensive coordinator. The name rising above the rest is Patrick Grahamâa coach whose rĂ©sumĂ© suggests intention rather than convenience.
Jordan Schultz first reported that McCarthy is expected to hire Graham as his defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. Shortly after, Jeremy Fowler added that Graham is flying to Pittsburgh for an interview and is widely viewed as the frontrunner, with league circles already operating as if the decision is all but complete.
On paper, itâs a strong hire. But context changes everything.
Graham spent the last several seasons as the Las Vegas Raidersâ defensive coordinator, working under three different head coaches since 2022. In a franchise known for instability, he was a rare constantâoften credited as one of the few bright spots on Pete Carrollâs staff this past season. His defenses didnât always dominate statistically, but they were disciplined, adaptable, and rarely collapsed under pressure.
That adaptability may be exactly what McCarthy is after.
Pittsburghâs coaching staff is undergoing a near-total reset. Arthur Smith is headed to Ohio State. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has already signed with the Buccaneers. Teryl Austin is out. The message is unmistakable: this is not a continuationâitâs a reconstruction.
Grahamâs background makes him a particularly telling choice. Before Las Vegas, he worked under Bill Belichick in New England, where he won a Super Bowl as a linebackers coach.
That experienceâdefensive structure, situational awareness, and a preference for versatility over flashâhas shaped his coaching identity. It also aligns with the kind of controlled, detail-driven football McCarthy has leaned toward throughout his career.
Whatâs notable is that Graham has quietly been a head-coaching candidate in recent years. Heâs interviewed, drawn interest, and earned respect across the league without the noise that often surrounds rising assistants.
That alone raises an unspoken question: is McCarthy hiring a coordinatorâor securing long-term stability in case this transition demands more than expected?
Meanwhile, uncertainty lingers elsewhere.
At quarterback, McCarthy has publicly left the door open for Aaron Rodgers to return. But at 42, retirement remains a real possibility, and no clear successor has emerged. In that kind of environment, defense becomes more than a unitâit becomes insurance.
A reliable, adaptable defensive system can mask offensive inconsistency, buy time for roster decisions, and stabilize a locker room adjusting to new leadership. Hiring Graham would suggest the Steelers are thinking beyond Week 1, beyond even 2026.
And yet, nothing has been officially announced.
Graham still has to interview. Formalities still matter. But when multiple insiders describe a move as âexpectedâ before the process concludes, it hints at conversations already hadâand decisions already leaning in one direction.
If finalized, this hire wonât come with fireworks. There will be no viral press conference, no bold proclamations. Just a name, a contract, and a quiet shift in how Pittsburgh intends to compete again.
The Steelers are rebuildingâbut not loudly. And sometimes, the most revealing moves are the ones made before anyone realizes whatâs already changed.
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