The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a new era now that Head Coach Mike Tomlin has retired. While he was one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, it definitely felt like change was necessary. New head coach Mike McCarthy has taken over to help give the team a more modern, offense-driven mindset to be able to compete with the top teams in the AFC. With that comes a new defensive mind in Patrick Graham that can also give a much-needed boost to a defense that has been stagnant for some time.
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Steelers' new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders.
In his recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, insider Ray Fittipaldo detailed the mindset of the Steelers when they hired Graham in the first place.
"As much as Team President Art Rooney II hired McCarthy to breathe some life into his offense, the same can be said of a defense that has largely underachieved when its price tag is taken into consideration," Fittipaldo said. "Graham is making several changes in schematics and personnel deployment, but he’s embracing the players he has inherited. 'We're doing it really to fit the players that are here,' Graham said."
Despite how loved and respected Tomlin was, his defense struggled at times during the 2025 season. He still tried to lead that unit and come up with the gameplan for each week, which did not always work out. What was supposed to be a "historic" 2025 defense ended up being much closer to historically awful with how they constantly gave up yards in hopes that splash plays would save them.
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Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands near the sideline while his team warms up prior to a professional football game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Some of Tomlin's former players have publicly and privately called him out for being way too complicated, as his schematics did not reflect the strengths and overall skill set of his unit during various games. Many fans were left confused on gameday when opposing offenses kept moving the ball with ease throughout the contest.
Meanwhile, Graham's calling card as a defensive coordinator is the fact that he builds his scheme around his players, not the other way around. They have made it very clear that they want very basic, simple play calls, as it will allow them to think less, communicate better, and play faster. That appears to be exactly what the new defensive staff will do to allow this highly talented group to play up to its potential.
One big example of this is that Tomlin had some complicated zone defense plays, despite the fact that the cornerbacks are built to play press man coverage. The most likely outcome is that Graham will allow those guys like Joey Porter Jr. to just play their game and lock up the opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage. The opposing quarterback can't get them the ball if they can't ever get on their route.
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The main reason Tomlin did what he did was to manufacture turnovers and sacks constantly. While it worked sometimes, his defense got absolutely shredded when it wasn't creating splash plays. It was flashy and cool to see, but it was not fundamentally sound. More importantly, playoff teams had no problem keeping control of the ball and completely exposing these schematics.
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Steelers' TJ Watt lines up before the snap during a home game against the Buffalo Bills in 2025.
With Graham, the Steelers will likely not be nearly as flashy. It may be boring to watch, but as long as it's effective, nobody will complain. The occasional 5+ turnover, 400+ yard defensive games will probably end up being a thing of the past in favor of more 1-2 takeaway games where the defense allows around 300 yards per game instead. That will be the key to victory for 2026 and beyond.
What do you think about Graham reportedly undoing Tomlin's defense and making his own? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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