Mike McCarthy just made the hiring decision Steelers fans were waiting for

Whether you were a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy or not, how he builds his staff will be the determining factor in how successful he can be in the Black and Gold. With over 30 years of NFL coaching experience in multiple places, McCarthy should have no trouble finding well-respected coaches to add to his staff.

His first major hire was heavily rumored over the past few days, but we now seem to have confirmation of who his defensive coordinator will be to start his Steelers tenure.

Patrick Graham, most recently the Raiders DC, has been tabbed as the Steelers new leader for their defense.

It's a role that has been viewed as a bit of an afterthought for many years, as Mike Tomlin's presence as the HC made guys like Keith Butler and Teryl Austin feel more like figureheads than true coordinators. That won't be the case with Graham, as he should get the chance to shape this defense how he sees fit.

Patrick Graham brings plenty of experience, but little success, to the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching ranks

Graham and McCarthy only spent one season on the same coaching staff (Packers in 2018), but Graham has since gone on to be a DC for multiple franchises, most notably with the Raiders from 2022 to 2025. Graham's defenses have been far from elite, with just two seasons of leading a group that finished top 10 in points allowed. Still, he is a respected defensive playcaller who lacked talent at most of his previous stops in the league.

In Pittsburgh, he will be tasked with improving a unit that saw serious regression from 2024 to 2025. With stars T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey only getting older, he will also be critical to the search for the next wave of defensive leaders. Getting the most out of their current roster is what the Steelers will always be focused on, seemingly, but there is no denying that the roster needs serious reinforcements.

With Graham on board, fans may also get to see a very different style of defense than they have become so used to seeing under Tomlin. McCarthy already made it clear that the 3-4 style defense is going nowhere, which is what Graham has run in the past, but new wrinkles and ways to hopefully free up guys like Watt and others to make plays could be interesting to see.

If nothing else, Graham provides a solid floor for a defense that could easily bottom out entirely without one. Hopefully, he can also show more upside than he has with lackluster talent at his previous stops.