On September 12, 1998 Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and the Syracuse Orange made life miserable for the Michigan Wolverines and junior Quarterback Tom Brady. In a preview of a future Superbowl 39 quarterback duel, Donovan McNabb threw for 233 yards and added 60 yards on the ground as the visitors of the Big House cruised to a 38-7 lead before putting in the backups for the fourth quarter and allowing Wolverines to end the game at a more respectable 38-28.
Austin, then a defensive assistant at the New York state college, and the Steelers will have to draw up a game plan to rattle Brady like the Orange did that day in Michigan when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. The junior who made just his second career start threw an interception on his first drive and was temporarily knocked out of the game in the second quarter. The two crossed paths for the first time at Michigan a year later when Austin became an assistant coach there and he asked Austin about the beat down.
Teryl Austin and Brady overlapped in Michigan in 1999, and TA came to Ann Arbor from Syracuse. The Orange and McNabb beat Brady and Michigan in 1998.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 13, 2022
Austin: "First time I came across Tom, first thing he came up and asked me, 'what did you see that made you play us that way?'"
Syracuse University's defensive end Dwight Freeney sacks Michigan quarterback Tom Brady for a 12-yard loss during SU's win at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 12, 1998. (Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard)Syracuse University's defensive end Dwight Freeney sacks Michigan quarterback Tom Brady for a 12-yard loss during SU's win at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 12, 1998 / Credit: Frank Ordonez / The Post-Standard
Both Austin and Brady have come a long way since that highly anticipated first meeting. Steeler Nation is more than familiar with Brady's resume and his play with the New England Patriots with the exposure to the rivalry that developed between him and Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
Despite the new red and black jersey that he'll be wearing for the first time against the Steelers, Austin addressed the challenge of facing off against the NFL's leader in passing yards when speaking to the media at UMPC-Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday.
"The thing with him, obviously he has seen everything. But the other thing, more than him seeing everything, he does a great job of getting rid of the ball fast," the Steelers Defensive Coordinator said via Steelers.com's Dave Lolley.
"It's going to be challenge to get after him. But we have to make sure we're doing the right things and doing the right things with our rush plan. Some of it might just be batted balls. Sometimes, batted balls are as good as a sack. Get him into third-and-long. We're not going to fool him. We know that. So, we've got to try to generate the rush the best way we can. Sometimes, you take chances. Sometimes you don't."
Steelers and Tom Brady
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward (#97), takes down former New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady (#12), in a Week 15 matchup at the formally known, Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium). | Credit: Antonella Crescimbeni / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Steelers have struggled to be able to solve Brady throughout his career. He sports a 9-3 record against the Steelers in the regular season and is undefeated in three playoff matchups. All three Steeler wins against Brady have been in Pittsburgh and a controversial call on a Jesse James catch in 2017 cost the Steelers a win.
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The other member of the Steelers staff who has some insider information on the man with more hardware than anyone else to have played the sport is Senior Defensive Assistant and Linebacker Coach, Brian Flores. The former Miami Dolphins Head Coach spent 11 years in the Patriots organization working in various personnel and coaching jobs under Bill Belichick. While Flores won't have insight into how the Buccaneers' offense works necessarily, Austin said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN, the familiarity with Brady will be helpful.
Teryl Austin on the benefit of having Brian Flores on staff when he's facing Brady, says while Flores doesn't have extra insight on specifics of scheme in Tampa:
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 13, 2022
"He'll have an idea about how Brady thinks about football."
So, Steeler Nation, how do you feel about the Steelers' defense's chances against Brady in what could be the last matchup against the future Hall of Famer? Do you think the familiarity with Brady can help seal a win?
As always, let us know on our social media feeds or in the comment section down below.
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