Former Steelers Safety Takes Massive Shot At Teryl Austin

The Pittsburgh Steelers have undergone a complete overhaul of their coaching staff, with Mike McCarthy taking over in January. While most of the roster remains the same, the secondary has had its own little revamp, with the defensive backs in training camp last season being much different than this year. Last offseason, the Steelers traded their All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, along with a pick swap. To go along with Ramsey, they also signed veterans Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill, both of whom are former Super Bowl Champions. 

The defense in 2025 had historic expectations, not just from fans, but also from the players and coaches. The group was historic, but for the wrong reasons, being statistically one of the worst defenses in the Mike Tomlin era. There were many factors in the team's failure, but there's no denying they were operating at a schematic disadvantage in many games. It was Tomlin's defense, but former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is not free from the blame either. 

Austin was promoted to defensive coordinator after Keith Butler retired following the 2021 season, and in his four seasons, the defense has ranked consistently average to below average in points allowed. Former Steelers players have recently voiced their displeasure with Austin and Tomlin's schematics, with Slay mentioning their very questionable coverage strategy. Another player has spoken up about how he felt about playing for Austin. 

Recently, Thornhill posted a video on TikTok teasing where he will be playing next. In the comment section, Thornhill made a jarring remark about Austin, and perhaps it was one of the reasons he was released midseason. 

"I didn't enjoy playing for that DC," Thornhill wrote.

Thornhill was a low-risk acquisition for the team, signing just a one-year, $3 million deal. He mostly played free safety, but wasn't a consistent starter. His underwhelming play got to a point where even when DeShon Elliott went down for the season, the Steelers decided to release Thornhill and move Ramsey to full-time safety. 

Many fans say that the Ramsey move wasn't much better, but he's always been willing to play the run. Ramsey still made the Pro Bowl in 2025 as well, even with the switch to a new scheme and position. Thornhill remains unsigned as training camp approaches, which may not change until the preseason. He was once a steady presence on a Super Bowl-winning secondary, but after signing with the Cleveland Browns, he was never the same player, and fans often questioned his effort on the field. 

Steelers Are Much Better Off Without Thornhill

With Austin no longer being the defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham has filled that role, potentially making the Steelers' defense more modern. Graham comes from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he arguably only had Maxx Crosby as a reliable playmaker. Now, with a roster as talented as the Steelers', he will have a great opportunity to get his name out there as potentially one of the best defensive minds in football. 

One of the big signings in free agency this offseason was safety Jaquan Brisker, who is a Pittsburgh native. Brisker has played mostly strong safety in his career, but has also shown the ability to play free safety. He brings youth to a secondary that lacks it, but is also an enforcer. He will be a great matchup for opposing teams' tight ends, who, under Tomlin, would always excel against the Steelers. 

Though he was playing in a very poor scheme, Thornhill himself is ultimately the reason he was released during the season and remains unsigned. His refusal to tackle ball carriers and poor coverage skills made his one-year bargain look like an overpay. Good thing the Steelers acted sooner rather than allowing the awful play to continue.

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