The Steelers have hired Patrick Graham to be their new defensive coordinator. The team made the move official Friday evening.
Graham, 47, has been the Raiders' defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. He has previous ties to Mike McCarthy, though he spent just one season under him as linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator with the Packers in 2018, the season McCarthy was fired in Green Bay. Graham later became defensive coordinator under Brian Flores with the Dolphins in 2019, and then moved on to become defensive coordinator and assistant head coach with the Giants in 2020-21.
Graham's background includes seven seasons working under Bill Belichick with the Patriots in 2009-2015, and two seasons under Steve Spagnuolo with the Giants in 2016-17.
Graham is a respected defensive mind in the game. Fans might look at surface numbers, see the Raiders have ranked no higher than 28th, 15th, 15th and 14th, respectively, in total defense under him and be very uninspired. However, as far as any impact talent goes, the Raiders have Maxx Crosby and ... that's it. There's virtually no defensive talent in Las Vegas.
Graham is thought to be a defensive coordinator that's done a lot with a lot less. In 2025, the Raiders ranked 31st in defensive spending, yet ranked 14th in the NFL in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), a metric that measures efficiency by comparing every single play to a league-average baseline, adjusted for down, distance and opponent quality. In 2023, the Raiders also ranked ninth in defensive EPA per play while ranking 15th in total defense.
From an Xs and Os standpoint, Graham has taken pride in forming his scheme to the players at his disposal. He's had season in which he's been more blitz heavy with predominantly man coverage, such as his year under Flores in Miami. But, he's also had years in which he dabbled more in Cover 4 usage and other match coverages. While he's primarily used a 3-4 front, he installed a 4-3 front with the Raiders since it was a better fit for Crosby, his best defensive player.
Graham's experience in using a 3-4 front meshes well with McCarthy's desire to keep that front as part of the Steelers' identity on defense. The 3-4 front will allow him to use the players in a similar way so they aren't having to reinvent the wheel on defense, but Graham's experience of working under Spagnuolo and Flores taught him how to show more exotic looks up front, whether that results in actual blitzes or simulated pressures. He did a lot of the latter when he returned to the Giants in 2020.
The addition of Graham will allow the Steelers to live in some familiarity, such as maintaining a 3-4 front and living predominantly in single-high looks (middle-field closed). However, Graham's flexibility in using different coverages in each of his various stops brings a breath of fresh air to a defense that's in desperate need of it. Graham will be able to bring new variations to playing Cover 2, Cover 4 and introduce more match coverages. In addition, the potential for more exotic blitzes and simulated pressures that could free up dangerous pass rushers such as T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, not to mention better utilization of Patrick Queen, who was a more effective blitzer in Baltimore.
If Graham is capable of getting more out of the talent he's given, then it'll be intriguing to see what he can do with perhaps the most talented group he's ever been given.
THE ASYLUM
Graham hired as new defensive coordinator
The Steelers have hired Patrick Graham to be their new defensive coordinator. The team made the move official Friday evening.
Graham, 47, has been the Raiders' defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. He has previous ties to Mike McCarthy, though he spent just one season under him as linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator with the Packers in 2018, the season McCarthy was fired in Green Bay. Graham later became defensive coordinator under Brian Flores with the Dolphins in 2019, and then moved on to become defensive coordinator and assistant head coach with the Giants in 2020-21.
Graham's background includes seven seasons working under Bill Belichick with the Patriots in 2009-2015, and two seasons under Steve Spagnuolo with the Giants in 2016-17.
Resumé:
• Wagner, Graduate assistant (2002–2003)
• Richmond, Defensive line coach (2004)
• Richmond, Tight ends coach (2005–2006)
• Notre Dame, Graduate assistant (2007–2008)
• Toledo, Defensive line coach (2009)
• Patriots, Coaching assistant (2009)
• Patriots, Defensive assistant (2010)
• Patriots, Linebackers coach (2011)
• Patriots, Defensive line coach (2012–2013)
• Patriots, Linebackers coach (2014–2015)
• Giants, Defensive line coach (2016–2017)
• Packers, Linebackers coach/Run game coordinator (2018)
• Dolphins, Defensive coordinator (2019)
• Giants, Assistant head coach/Defensive coordinator (2020–2021)
• Raiders, Defensive coordinator (2022–2025)
Graham is a respected defensive mind in the game. Fans might look at surface numbers, see the Raiders have ranked no higher than 28th, 15th, 15th and 14th, respectively, in total defense under him and be very uninspired. However, as far as any impact talent goes, the Raiders have Maxx Crosby and ... that's it. There's virtually no defensive talent in Las Vegas.
Graham is thought to be a defensive coordinator that's done a lot with a lot less. In 2025, the Raiders ranked 31st in defensive spending, yet ranked 14th in the NFL in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), a metric that measures efficiency by comparing every single play to a league-average baseline, adjusted for down, distance and opponent quality. In 2023, the Raiders also ranked ninth in defensive EPA per play while ranking 15th in total defense.
From an Xs and Os standpoint, Graham has taken pride in forming his scheme to the players at his disposal. He's had season in which he's been more blitz heavy with predominantly man coverage, such as his year under Flores in Miami. But, he's also had years in which he dabbled more in Cover 4 usage and other match coverages. While he's primarily used a 3-4 front, he installed a 4-3 front with the Raiders since it was a better fit for Crosby, his best defensive player.
Graham's experience in using a 3-4 front meshes well with McCarthy's desire to keep that front as part of the Steelers' identity on defense. The 3-4 front will allow him to use the players in a similar way so they aren't having to reinvent the wheel on defense, but Graham's experience of working under Spagnuolo and Flores taught him how to show more exotic looks up front, whether that results in actual blitzes or simulated pressures. He did a lot of the latter when he returned to the Giants in 2020.
The addition of Graham will allow the Steelers to live in some familiarity, such as maintaining a 3-4 front and living predominantly in single-high looks (middle-field closed). However, Graham's flexibility in using different coverages in each of his various stops brings a breath of fresh air to a defense that's in desperate need of it. Graham will be able to bring new variations to playing Cover 2, Cover 4 and introduce more match coverages. In addition, the potential for more exotic blitzes and simulated pressures that could free up dangerous pass rushers such as T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, not to mention better utilization of Patrick Queen, who was a more effective blitzer in Baltimore.
If Graham is capable of getting more out of the talent he's given, then it'll be intriguing to see what he can do with perhaps the most talented group he's ever been given.
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