After firing senior assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II last week due to violation of club policy, Mike McCarthy has a vacancy on his staff.
To kick off mandatory minicamp on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, McCarthy addressed the situation and if Swinton's role will be filled.
"The situation has been dealt with internally, and we are definitely moving forward as far as the hiring process," McCarthy said. "It's going on, and we’re taking the steps necessary, but yes, we will be hiring a coach here in the future."
Swinton, 41, was hired earlier this offseason to work under special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. Prior to 2026, Swinton has 15 years of NFL coaching experience. He spent the 2021 season as the Chargers special teams coordinator, but was fired on Jan. 19, 2022 and did not coach in the 2022 season. Swinton then spent three years in Las Vegas (2023-25) as assistant special teams coach. In 2025, he was promoted to interim special teams coordinator after Tom McMahon was fired.
The Steelers don’t often fire coaches, especially just months after being hired. So, whatever the violation was, it was significant.
THE ASYLUM
McCarthy: Team will replace fired coach
After firing senior assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II last week due to violation of club policy, Mike McCarthy has a vacancy on his staff.
To kick off mandatory minicamp on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, McCarthy addressed the situation and if Swinton's role will be filled.
"The situation has been dealt with internally, and we are definitely moving forward as far as the hiring process," McCarthy said. "It's going on, and we’re taking the steps necessary, but yes, we will be hiring a coach here in the future."
Swinton, 41, was hired earlier this offseason to work under special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. Prior to 2026, Swinton has 15 years of NFL coaching experience. He spent the 2021 season as the Chargers special teams coordinator, but was fired on Jan. 19, 2022 and did not coach in the 2022 season. Swinton then spent three years in Las Vegas (2023-25) as assistant special teams coach. In 2025, he was promoted to interim special teams coordinator after Tom McMahon was fired.
The Steelers don’t often fire coaches, especially just months after being hired. So, whatever the violation was, it was significant.
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