With the Senior Bowl week now completed, Mike Tomlin's work on filling holes on his coaching staff is expected to heat up this week.
Saturday, he might have had his hand forced in his search to replace defensive coordinator Keith Butler, who retired at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
First, former Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, whom Tomlin spoke to in regard to the coordinator opening, was hired by the Raiders on new head coach Josh McDaniels' staff.
Then, the Giants requested permission from the Steelers to speak to senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Teryl Austin about their defensive coordinator opening on new head coach Brian Daboll's staff. That interview took place Saturday, according to the New York Post.
Austin is the front-runner to replace Butler, but Tomlin has been doing his due diligence in finding a replacement, also talking to Saints secondary coach Kris Richard and Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt.
The Steelers could not deny the Giants' request to interview Austin since he is currently in a non-play calling role.
The Steelers could simply elevate Austin, ending any speculation regarding his future with the team.
Tomlin has done much of defensive play calling for the Steelers in recent years.
Last month, Butler in an interview on 93.7 The Fan, said Tomlin had done so going back to as early as 2014 when Dick LeBeau was defensive coordinator.
But sources say that wasn't necessarily true. Tomlin interjected himself on third downs and inside the red zone, but LeBeau still called the majority of the defenses.
Still, team president Art Rooney II said two weeks ago that the new coordinator could be tasked with calling the defense, as well.
"I think that Coach Tomlin inserts himself where he needs to, and I think the role between him and his coordinators is something they have to work out the best way for plays to be called and the most effective way," Rooney said. "That’s something that’s mostly between coach and his coordinators. As we change defensive coordinators now, there may be some changes in how Coach Tomlin handles that."
Last week, the team lost interim offensive line coach Chris Morgan to the Bears.
The retirement of Butler, who also served as the team's outside linebackers coach, and loss of Morgan leaves Tomlin with three openings on his staff. If Austin is elevated, the Steelers would then need to hire a secondary coach, as well.
Those hirings are expected to be made in the coming week.
