Report: Steelers plan to promote in-house candidate to defensive coordinator

With Keith Butler retiring after spending seven seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense coordinator, head coach Mike Tomlin is now tasked with making a hire to fill the vacant position. It appears that he’s already made a decision on who will replace Butler.

According to a report from Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network, Tomlin and the Steelers are expected to promote Teryl Austin – the team’s senior defensive assistant and secondary coach – to defensive coordinator.

Austin, 56, has been with Pittsburgh since 2019 after spending the 2018 season as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator. Prior to his one season with the Bengals, Austin served as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator from 2014-17.

In addition to Austin’s past two defensive coordinator jobs at the NFL level, he’s also coached at the collegiate level – serving as Florida’s defensive coordinator in 2010. In all, Austin’s worked in the coaching field for over 30 years.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 9-7-1 season, which ended with a 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card round.

Steelers release statement on Keith Butler’s retirement

On Saturday, the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero dropped the bomb that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler had informed the team that he intended to retire.

After Butler’s retirement was confirmed, the Steelers put out statements from team president Art Rooney II. Rooney kept it short and sweet, thanking Butler with this statement.

“I want to thank Keith Butler for everything he has done for the Steelers since he was hired in 2003. He was a major contributor to some of our top defenses in the NFL during his coaching career. He helped us win two Super Bowls during his tenure, and he guided many All-Pro and Pro Bowl players as both our linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator,” said Rooney.

“I wish he and his family all the best in his retirement.”

Butler had spent a total of 19 of his 23 years as a coach in Pittsburgh. With the Steelers, he had been a part of their two Super Bowl-winning staffs; in 2006 under Bill Cowher and in 2009 with current head coach Mike Tomlin. Butler had been Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator since taking over in 2015 and was a fixture on the team as the Steelers’ linebackers coach since 2003.

On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this report.