McCarthy Lands Graham for Steelers Defense

Mike McCarthy, recently appointed as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, has made his first significant staff addition by naming Patrick Graham as the team's new defensive coordinator. This announcement follows McCarthy's surprise resignation from his previous role and his subsequent hire by the Steelers. Graham, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders for four seasons, brings a familiar dynamic to Pittsburgh.

His prior working relationship with McCarthy on the Green Bay Packers staff in 2018, where Graham served as linebackers coach and run game coordinator, established a strong foundation for this reunion. The Steelers organization officially confirmed Graham's appointment on Friday night via their X account. McCarthy's next priority is to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy left by Arthur Smith before addressing roster needs for the upcoming 2026 campaign.