The Pittsburgh Steelers had an awful finish to the 2024 season, losing five straight games as both the offense and defense struggled down the stretch. While the secondary wasn’t terrible, it failed to meet the high expectations set by fans throughout the season. The disappointing finish has raised concerns about the team's ability to bounce back in 2025.
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Steelers' Gerald Alexander pictured here as a member of the Miami Dolphins coaching staff.
In an effort to address their defensive struggles, NFL insider Cameron Wolfe announced on Friday night that the Steelers would be hiring Gerald Alexander as their new defensive backs coach. Alexander, who has experience coaching at both the college and NFL levels, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the secondary. His arrival signals a potential shift in the team's defensive approach heading into next season.
Steelers are hiring Gerald Alexander as their new DB coach, per source.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 8, 2025
Alexander is a smart, rising coach who spent last season as Raiders safeties coach. Now takes over Pitt secondary. pic.twitter.com/LMYDkB0Ygr
What this means for current secondary coach Grady Brown remains unclear. Brown has been with the Steelers since 2021 and played a role in developing the team’s young defensive backs. Whether he will stay on in a different capacity or move on from the organization is yet to be determined. Alexander has coached under Brown before with the Steelers. That likely hints that they will be working together.
Brown has been a rising star in his own right during his time in Pittsburgh, earning respect for his work with the Steelers' secondary. His coaching ability hasn’t gone unnoticed, as there was concern that the team might lose him to another organization seeking his services. Earlier this offseason, Brown interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons for their defensive coordinator position, a testament to how highly regarded he is around the league.
Yahoo Sports
Steelers Secondary Coach Grady Brown yelling during a game.
Although he didn’t land the Falcons' job, the interview process highlighted his growing reputation as a defensive coach. His impact on the Steelers’ secondary has been significant, and his presence on the coaching staff has been valued by both the organization and the players. With Pittsburgh now bringing in Alexander as the new defensive backs coach, questions remain about how Brown's role will evolve moving forward.
The possibility of expanding the coaching staff and allowing Brown to work alongside Alexander would be a major win for the Steelers. Having two highly respected defensive minds collaborating could elevate the secondary to new heights. It'll be something to keep an eye on for Steelers fans as they watch and wait to see what happens with the rest of the staff.
Steelers Welcome Home Gerald Alexander
Alexander finished the 2024 season as the Las Vegas Raiders' safeties coach, adding to his growing resume of experience at both the college and NFL levels. Before his time in Las Vegas, he built his reputation in the college ranks before landing a job with the Miami Dolphins as their defensive backs coach from 2020 to 2021.
His coaching journey then led him to Pittsburgh, where he served as the Steelers' assistant defensive backs coach from 2022 to 2023, working closely with Brown.
Indiana State Sports Information
Steelers Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander, then with the Indiana State football program, helps run a drill in practice.
Now, Alexander returns to Pittsburgh in an expanded role as the Steelers look to strengthen their coaching staff. Bringing back a familiar face with NFL experience is an exciting move, especially as the team looks to keep pace with the rest of the league. With Alexander and Brown potentially working together, the Steelers’ secondary could take a significant step forward in 2025. They have talent in that room and it's going to be a big season for Joey Porter Jr. as he looks to bounce back a little bit.
The Steelers' cornerbacks and safeties were expected to take a big step forward in the 2024 season. As with anything Steelers-related, expectations were sky-high. For much of the season, the secondary looked solid, showing flashes of strong play and discipline.
However, during the five-game losing streak to close out the year, the unit struggled and failed to make the impact the team needed. While the secondary wasn’t the biggest weakness, it also didn’t do the team any favors down the stretch. As Pittsburgh looks to improve in several areas, the defensive backfield remains a group in need of refinement heading into 2025.
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