The Pittsburgh Steelers are nearing an agreement with Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin on a new two-year contract according to a report from ESPN Senior Reporter Jeremy Fowler. The news comes on the heels of the Steelers losing assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The #Steelers are working to finalize a new two-year contract for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 25, 2024
Austin, with Pittsburgh since 2019, guided the league's sixth-ranked scoring defense.
Austin just finished the final year of his initial deal after becoming the team's defensive coordinator in 2022. Austin was the secondary coach under former Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler. After Butler retired following the 2021 season, Austin was promoted.
Pittsburgh Steelers YouTube
Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin press conference
Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Austin served as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (2014-17), before a one-year stint in the same role with the Cincinnati Bengals (2018). Austin was fired during the middle of the season by the Bengals after several lack luster performances from Austin's defenses.
The Steelers ranked sixth in the league in fewest points allowed in 2023 giving up 19.1 points per game. The Steelers allowed more rushing yards, and more passing yards in 2023 on average than they did in 2022. But the team also dealt with injuries that sidelined All Pro's Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cam Heyward for a combined 13 games.
The team also had to deal with the loss of Keanu Neal, Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander, and the suspension of starting safety Damontae Kazee for the final three games of the season. During that span the team was forced to move Patrick Peterson to safety and start reserve Elijah Riley.
AP
Damontae Kazee was suspended the final three games of the 2023 season for this hit.
Despite dealing with injuries the Steelers weren't exactly forced to face many great quarterbacks in 2023. Pittsburgh played against backups Jake Browning (x2), Garnder Minshew, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Tyler Huntley. None of which are the next coming of Tom Brady. They would lose to Minshew, and Thompson-Robinson making his second career start.
Steelers' Teryl Austin Always A Western PA Boy
Austin was born in the small western Pennsylvania town of Sharon. He then played his college football at the University of Pittsburgh.
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