After the Steelers were ousted from the playoffs, allowing 45 points in a loss to Jacksonville, many felt changes would be forthcoming to the defensive staff. The changes came fast and furious this week.
A day after Carnell Lake announced he would not return as the team's defensive backs coach, the Steelers hired former Penn State assistant Tom Bradley to replace him. The team also hired Karl Dunbar as its new defensive line coach, replacing John Mitchell. Mitchell, who has been with the Steelers for 24 seasons, will continue to serve as assistant head coach while also working with Dunbar.
Bradley, the brother of Steelers team physician James Bradley, was a longtime assistant coach under Joe Paterno at Penn State. Tom Bradley replaced the legendary head coach on an interim basis after Paterno was fired amid the Jerry Sandusky scandal in 2011.
Bradley, a native of Johnstown, maintained a residence in suburban Pittsburgh and was once considered Penn State's head-coach-in-waiting behind Paterno.
Bradley and the rest of Penn State's staff left after that season and he resurfaced in 2014 as defensive coordinator at West Virginia. He spent the past three seasons serving as defensive coordinator at UCLA.
Dunbar was an eighth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 1990 after playing collegiately at LSU, where Mitchell was one of the defensive coaches. Dunbar spent three seasons in the NFL, playing for New Orleans and Arizona.
He began his coaching career at the high school level when his playing career was completed, moving to Nicholls State in 1998. Dunbar has spent the past two seasons at Alabama, serving as the Crimson Tide's defensive line coach. Dunbar was on staff with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 when Tomlin was defensive coordinator.
Mitchell, 66, has been with the Steelers since 1994, helping develop a number of players considered among the team's best defensive linemen. In his new duties, Mitchell will oversee staff development and assist Mike Tomlin in community related events. He was named assistant head coach in 2007 when Tomlin replaced Bill Cowher.
Mitchell had been considering retirement.
The Steelers finished fifth in the NFL in total defense in 2017 but faltered down the stretch after Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ryan Shazier was lost to a season-ending spinal injury Dec. 4 at Cincinnati. They matched their postseason record for most points allowed in a 45-42 loss to Jacksonville in the Divisional playoffs.
Also on Thursday, offensive assistant coach Shaun Sarrett, who has been with the team since 2012, has been elevated to assistant offensive line coach. Sarrett, a former college offensive linemen, had filled that role in the past, but his new title comes with an increase in pay.
The Steelers hired Blaine Stewart, son of former West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart, earlier this week as offensive assistant.