Teryl

Austin

You won’t find many defensive coordinators on the market more qualified than Austin, who has led as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator since 2022 while also holding the same role with the Lions (2014-2017) and the Bengals (2018). Since Austin took over as the Steelers’ defensive play-caller, the team finished in the top-10 in points allowed three times, while ranking in the top-15 in yards allowed twice. This is the first reported interview for Austin, who may or may not be back with the Steelers once they solidify their next head coach.

Seven-year defensive coordinator Keith Butler retired at the end of the 2021 season, leaving the opening for Austin to fill. Austin has been with the Steelers for three years and should have no problem keeping the defense at its elite level. He also has five years of experience as a defensive coordinator, previously filling the role in Detroit and Cincinnati. Austin also interviewed for the Giants defensive coordinator vacancy.

Austin joins Don Martindale, Sean Desai, and Jim Schwartz among the known candidates vying for New York’s DC role under Brian Daboll. Austin, reportedly the “in-house favorite” for Pittsburgh’s DC vacancy after Keith Butler retired, initially joined the Steelers in 2019, gaining experience under Butler in that time. The Steelers actually cannot deny permission for Austin to interview since his transition would be a promotion/play-calling role.

Austin was the Lions’ defensive coordinator when they fired Jim Caldwell after his 9-7 campaign in 2017. "(Ex-Lions GM) Bob Quinn knew he was hiring Matt Patricia and used Teryl to comply with the Rooney Rule,” Austin’s rep said. “Didn’t work out well for the Lions. Never should’ve fired Jim Caldwell.” Austin spoke about the experience to the Associated Press in October, saying it’s tough to take interviews when you know the team has already made up its mind, and it would be better for all involved if teams entered the process with a truly open mind. Although not yet technically the Steelers’ defensive coordinator, Austin is Keith Butler’s presumed replacement in Pittsburgh.

Austin was fired mid-season as Bengals defensive coordinator in 2018 and had been the Lions defensive coordinator for four years before the Matt Patricia hire spilled him out. Austin had some pedigree of success with the Lions, and it’ll be interesting to see how much of a change this actually is from the standard Steelers defense that has been mostly unchanged for years, if not decades.

Austin lasted less than a year as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator in 2018 before being axed and joining the Steelers as an assistant focusing primarily on the secondary. If the Titans hire him, Austin would take over a Tennessee defense that was regularly trampled on by opponents. The Titans in 2020 allowed an average of 27 points per game (ninth most), 127.5 rushing yards per game (eighth most), and 270.8 passing yards per game (fifth most).

Rapoport reported Sunday night that Austin is “in negotiations” with the Bengals to become their new defensive coordinator, so this leak could just be an effort to grease the wheels in those talks. All we know right now is Austin is unlikely to stay in Detroit with Patriots DC Matt Patricia expected to take over as head coach.

Austin was a hot name on the coordinating circuit, drawing strong interest from the Raiders and getting connected to the Packers as well. Although Austin’s defenses in Detroit were far from dominant, he maximized the Lions’ talent and is one of the league’s most respected defensive minds. With DE Carl Lawson, WLB Vontaze Burfict, LE Carlos Dunlap, and CB William Jackson in place, Austin inherits a talented Bengals defense that faded down the 2017 stretch due to injuries.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Austin’s focus will be on the Steelers’ secondary. Austin lasted less than a year as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator and has fallen a long way from a few years ago when he was interviewing for head-coaching jobs. Hopefully he’ll benefit from a change of scenery in Pittsburgh.

Austin can certainly point to injuries to explain Cincinnati’s struggles on defense this season, but this is an understandable move considering how far the Bengals’ defense has fallen short of expectations. Despite one of the better defensive lines, the Bengals are currently in the bottom third of the league in sacks, and they have allowed at least 28 points in six of their last seven games including 51 to the Saints in a walkover on Sunday. New Orleans also gained 509 yards in that game, making the Bengals the first team in the Super Bowl era to give up at least 500 yards three games in a row. Firing Austin probably will not be the panacea, but Cincinnati had to try something.