The Steelers have hired Darian Thompson as the team's new special teams quality control coach, per source.
Mike McCarthy had a vacancy on his coaching staff after firing senior assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II for violating club policy. McCarthy said on June 2 that he intended to fill the vacancy.
Thompson, 32, was a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft. The former Boise State safety played six NFL seasons, spending the final four in Dallas, where he played under McCarthy for two years. Over his six-year career, Thompson appeared in 63 games and recorded 173 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He also played extensively on special teams, logging 795 career snaps. In 2019, Thompson recorded nine special teams tackles, the second-most on the Cowboys that season.
After retiring, Thompson took the 2022 season off before McCarthy hired him in February 2023 as the Cowboys' assistant linebackers coach and defensive quality control coach. He spent two seasons in that role. After McCarthy left Dallas, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer kept Thompson on staff and promoted him to secondary/nickels coach. However, Thompson was not retained after the 2025 season when new defensive coordinator Christian Parker overhauled the defensive coaching staff.
It's not surprising to see McCarthy bring in another coach with whom he has previous ties. Much of his staff in Pittsburgh is made up of coaches he's worked with in some capacity. Thompson will primarily work under special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, with his responsibilities likely varying from day to day, as quality control coaches typically handle whatever duties are delegated to them.
THE ASYLUM
Source: Thompson hired to coaching staff
The Steelers have hired Darian Thompson as the team's new special teams quality control coach, per source.
Mike McCarthy had a vacancy on his coaching staff after firing senior assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II for violating club policy. McCarthy said on June 2 that he intended to fill the vacancy.
Thompson, 32, was a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft. The former Boise State safety played six NFL seasons, spending the final four in Dallas, where he played under McCarthy for two years. Over his six-year career, Thompson appeared in 63 games and recorded 173 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He also played extensively on special teams, logging 795 career snaps. In 2019, Thompson recorded nine special teams tackles, the second-most on the Cowboys that season.
After retiring, Thompson took the 2022 season off before McCarthy hired him in February 2023 as the Cowboys' assistant linebackers coach and defensive quality control coach. He spent two seasons in that role. After McCarthy left Dallas, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer kept Thompson on staff and promoted him to secondary/nickels coach. However, Thompson was not retained after the 2025 season when new defensive coordinator Christian Parker overhauled the defensive coaching staff.
It's not surprising to see McCarthy bring in another coach with whom he has previous ties. Much of his staff in Pittsburgh is made up of coaches he's worked with in some capacity. Thompson will primarily work under special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, with his responsibilities likely varying from day to day, as quality control coaches typically handle whatever duties are delegated to them.
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