Mike McCarthy has been busy putting the finishing touches on his coaching staff. Since taking over for Mike Tomlin, the new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach hired defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in addition to a collection of assistant coaches.
On February 4, just minutes after reports surfaced that the Steelers had hired Brian Angelichio as their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero announced that Pittsburgh is hiring Joe Whitt Jr. to be their assistant head coach and secondary coach.
This is an important role, and one that won't go unnoticed.
As the new defensive backs coach, Whitt will take the place of Gerald Alexander, the Steelers' DB coach in 2025. Whitt's most recently spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders.
Unfortunately, Whitt's 2025 season didn't go well, as the Commanders ranked 32nd in total defense and 27th in points allowed. Still, there's a niche the new assistant head coach and DB coach could bring with him to Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could keep their 'turnover culture' with Joe Whitt Jr. hiring
Just like all of these Steelers coaching hirings in 2026, Whitt comes with strong ties to head coach Mike McCarthy. The two vet coaches worked together with the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2018, where Whitt served as a defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
Then, in 2021, Whitt and McCarthy reunited in Dallas, where Whitt served as the secondary coach and passing game coordinator for three seasons through 2023.
While his latest defense in Washington struggled last season, Whitt has a rich history of helping his defenses create takeaways—and that turnover culture is a key element he could bring with him to Pittsburgh.
From 2009 to 2017, with the Green Bay Packers, Whitt's defense created 176 interceptions, which was the most in the league over this span. And despite coaching just three years in Dallas, his defense led the NFL in takeaways twice (2021 and 2022).
This might prove to be the perfect match with new Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. While Graham has been touted for getting his defenses to play above expectations, his units have lacked in the turnover department.
In his four-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, Graham's defenses never ranked in the top half of the league—finishing 32nd in 2022 and 24th in each of his past two seasons in this department.
That's where Whitt can offer some help.
With his primary focus on the secondary, Joe Whitt Jr. can help the Pittsburgh Steelers retain their turnover culture while aiding Graham in executing the defensive game plan.