Thursday, February 12
The Steelers finalized Head Coach Mike McCarthy's 2026 coaching staff today.
The full list includes:
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Angelichio
Quarterbacks: Tom Arth
Offensive Line: James Campen
Running Backs: Ramon Chinyoung Sr.
Wide Receivers: Adam Henry
Tight Ends: Robert Kugler
Senior Offensive Assistant: Frank Cignetti Jr.
Game Management/Quarterbacks: Tim Berbenich
Assistant Offensive Line: Jahri Evans
Offensive Quality Control: Eric Simonelli
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Patrick Graham
Assistant Head Coach/Secondary: Joe Whitt Jr.
Defensive Pass-Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs: Jason Simmons
Defensive Line: Domata Peko
Outside Linebackers: C.J. Ah You
Inside Linebackers: Scott McCurley
Defensive Assistant: Shawn Howe
Defensive Assistant: Pat Reilly
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special Teams Coordinator: Danny Crossman
Senior Special Teams Assistant: Derius Swinton II
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Head Strength & Conditioning: Mark Lovat
Director of Performance Integration/Sports Science: Grant Thorne
Strength and Conditioning Assistant: Justus Galac
Strength and Conditioning Assistant: Abe Munayer
Chief of Staff: Steve Scarnecchia
With the finalization of the team's coaching staff, the Steelers added the following: tight ends coach Rob Kugler, outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You, senior special teams assistant Derius Swinton II, game management/quarterbacks Tim Berbenich, senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr., offensive quality control coach Eric Simonelli, and defensive assistant Shawn Howe.
The team also announced their strength and conditioning staff, which includes head strength and conditioning coach Mark Lovat, director of performance integration/sports science Grant Thorne, and assistant strength and conditioning coaches Justus Galac and Abe Munayer.
Kugler spent the last two seasons (2024-25) as assistant offensive line coach for the New England Patriots.
In 2025, the Patriots, who reached Super Bowl LX, were ranked first in the AFC in overall offense and passing offense, and third in rushing offense. The unit finished the season ranked third in the NFL in overall offense, fourth in passing and sixth in rushing.
The Patriots were first in passing net yards per play, second in total yards per play, third in total yards per game, fourth in passing net yards per game, fifth in first downs per game and sixth in rushing yards per game in the NFL last season.
Prior to his time with the Patriots, he spent two seasons as the assistant offensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers (2022-23). He was the assistant offensive line coach for the Houston Texans in 2021.
Kugler broke into the coaching ranks at the college level, first as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2017. He spent the 2018-19 seasons at the University of Washington as a graduate assistant. In 2020, he was an offensive quality control coach Appalachian State.
Kugler played college football at Purdue (2012-15) where he started 43 consecutive games at center and was a two-time team captain. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2016, spending training camp with the team.
Kugler played football at North Allegheny High School in the Pittsburgh area for his senior year while his father, Sean Kugler, was the Steelers offensive line coach.
Ah You spent the last four seasons (2022-25) as the outside linebackers coach at Texas Tech.
During his time at Texas Tech, the Red Raiders made three bowl appearances, with two victories. They defeated Ole Miss in the TaxAct Texas Bowl and beat Cal in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Texas Tech is also one of only two schools in the Big 12 Conference to post a winning league record in each of the last three seasons.
In 2022, Texas Tech led the Big 12 Conference and were ranked 18th in the FBS for tackles for a loss with 91. In the Texas Bowl the Red Raiders had eight tackles for a loss, with young players Myles Cole and Isaac Smith emerging for the defense.
Under the guidance of Ah You, Tyree Wilson developed into a first team All-American, an All-Big 12 first team honoree, and was the Big 12 leader in tackles for loss per game. He was the first defensive end or outside linebacker to earn first team All-America honors for the Red Raiders since 1998. Wilson was selected seventh overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
In addition, Cole was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cole transferred to Texas Tech after starting his college career at Louisiana-Monroe and grew under Ah You's teaching.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Ah You was the defensive quality control coach at USC (2021), minority coaching intern for the Los Angeles Chargers (2020), defensive line coach for the XFL's New York Guardians (2019-20), defensive line coach at Vanderbilt (2016-18) and defensive quality control assistant at Oklahoma (2014-15).
Ah You finished his college career at Oklahoma where he was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a junior in 2005 and All-Big 12 first team selection in 2006.
He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Swinton was the Las Vegas Raiders interim special teams coordinator in 2025, promoted in mid-season, after being the Raiders assistant special teams coach since 2023.
In 2025, the Raiders were ranked sixth in kickoff return, while in 2024 Swinton helped punter A.J. Cole to a league-high and single-season career best 50.8 gross punting average. Cole also finished seventh in the NFL with a 42.5 net punt average. Kicker Daniel Carlson also became the 15th player in NFL history to reach 800 career points in his first seven seasons.
During the 2023 season, Swinton worked with the special teams unit that were among the best in the NFL and helped Cole earn his third straight Pro Bowl appearance.
Prior to his time with the Raiders, Swinton was the special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. Swinton oversaw an improvement in the Chargers special teams performance in both the kicking and return game in his one season. The Chargers went from 29th in the NFL in field goal percentage to nine in one season, while the kickoff return team went from 15th to fourth in his lone season.
Swinton spent time with the Arizona Cardinals as part of the Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship in 2019 and was the team's assistant special teams coach in 2020.
Swinton spent one season as an offensive assistant for the Detroit Lions (2018), but the rest of his career was focused on special teams.
In 2016, Swinton was the special teams coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers kickoff coverage improved from 25th fewest average return yards allowed to fifth fewest in his one season.
Swinton had roles as assistant special teams coach, including the Chicago Bears (2015, 2017) and Denver Broncos (2013-14). In addition, he was the special teams quality control coach for the Kansas City Chiefs (2012) and Los Angeles Rams (2009-11). He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant for the University of Tennessee (2007-08).
Swinton was a standout at Hampton University for both the football and basketball teams.
Berbenich spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons as the pass game specialist/game management.
In 2025, the Falcons were ranked 14th in total offense. In 2024, the Falcons finished sixth in total offense, moving up from a 17th ranking prior to Berbenich's arrival.
Prior to joining the Falcons, Berbenich was a coaching analyst for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
Berbenich spent one season with the Houston Texans (2022) as the team's tight end coach. Tight end Jordan Akins had 37 receptions for 495 yards and five touchdowns, while leading all tight ends with a 13.4-yard per catch average.
He spent three seasons as the offensive quality control coach for the Las Vegas Raiders (2018-20), and one season as the team's running backs coach. Under his guidance Josh Jacobs rushed for 872 yards and nine touchdowns.
Berbenich spent five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts in multiple roles, including offensive assistant (2013-14), offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks (2016-17) and defensive assistant (2015).
In addition, he spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in multiple roles, including offensive quality control coach (2006-07), assistant running backs coach (2008) and assistant receivers coach (2009-11).
Berbenich broke into the NFL as an offensive assistant with the New York Jets (2003-04) and offensive quality control coach (2005).
Cignetti was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2025.
Cignetti, a Pittsburgh native, spent the 2022-23 seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He was also the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Pitt in 2009-10, and a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1989.
Cignetti brings a mix of professional and college experience with him. He has 24 years of experience coaching on the college level, 11 years in the NFL.
He has been an offensive coordinator at eight different places, seven in college and one in the NFL, with the Los Angeles Rams in 2015. Among the quarterbacks he has worked with are Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning.
Prior to his arrival at Pitt, Cignetti was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Boston College. While with the Eagles, quarterback Phil Jurkovec ranked among the ACC's top quarterbacks as a first-year starter.
Cignetti was the quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers in 2018 under Coach Mike McCarthy. While with the Packers he worked with Rodgers, who was the Steelers starting quarterback in 2025.
Cignetti's NFL resume includes working as the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants (2016-17) and Los Angeles Rams (2012-14). He was also the Rams offensive coordinator in 2015.
He also was the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers (2007) and New Orleans Saints (2000-01). He entered the NFL as a quality control coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.
Cignetti's college rounds also included Rutgers (2011) where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, California (2008) as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, North Carolina (2006), as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Fresno State (2002-05) as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
In addition, he coached at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pa., where he was the receivers coach (1990-92), secondary coach (1993-94), quarterbacks coach (1995-96), offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (1997-98).
Simonelli was the assistant linebackers coach at TCU in 2025, part of a coaching staff that led the team to a No. 25 ranking in the Associated Press poll and an Alamo Bowl championship.
Prior to his time at TCU, Simonelli spent six years with the Dallas Cowboys in a variety of roles.
He started in 2019 as a football research assistant and was promoted to special teams quality control coach/football analytics under Coach Mike McCarthy in 2020. He spent the 2021 season as the offensive quality control coach/football analytics, before moving to defensive quality control coach/football analytics in 2022, where he has remained ever since.
Simonelli was a student assistant coach at Wesleyan University from 2017-19, and an independent football research consultant for the San Francisco 49ers in 2018.
Howe has been at Montana State since 2021, serving as the defensive coordinator in 2025.
In 2024, when he was the co-defensive coordinator, Montana State had a school-record 15 wins, including winning the Big Sky Championship, and finished 11th in scoring defense (18.1) and 24th in rushing defense (121.2) in the FCS. They were also first in the Big Sky in sacks.
In his role as defensive run game coordinator/defensive line (2021-24), the defense led the FCS with 3.42 sacks per game in 2023. They were also 21st with 6.8 tackles for a loss per game, leading the Big Sky in both categories.
In 2022, the defense helped lead them to another Big Sky Championship, leading the conference in rushing defense.
Prior to his time at Montana State, he was a defensive analyst at USC (2019-20), defensive line coach at Coastal Carolina (2018), assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Dixie State (now Utah Tech, 2015-17), defensive line coach Humboldt State (2013-14), defensive graduate assistant/defensive line at USC (2011-12), assistant strength and conditioning coach at Tennessee (2010), graduate assistant at Memphis (2007-09), volunteer assistant at North Carolina State (2006), and outside linebackers coach at his alma mater Rocky Mountain College (2004-05).
Lovat spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans as the assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Prior to his time with the Titans, he spent 25 years with the Green Bay Packers, where he worked with Coach Mike McCarthy.
Lovat was the Packers strength and conditioning assistant for 16 seasons, and the team's strength and conditioning coordinator from 2010-2018.
Lovat was named the NFL Strength Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Society in 2011, and they also honored him with the Super Bowl Achievement Award in 2010.
Lovat attended Butler University where he played baseball. He is the son of longtime NFL offensive line coach Tom Lovat, who worked for the Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.
Thorne spent the last two years with the Tennessee Titans, after spending 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he worked with head coach Mike McCarthy.
Thorne was with the Packers from 2015-2023 as a strength and conditioning assistant. He spent the 2013-14 season as a strength and conditioning consultant for the Packers.
Thorne also spent time at Purdue University as a sports performance coach (2011-14), Stanford University as assistant performance coach (2011) and New York Jets as performance and monitoring assistant (2010).
Thorne played college football at Long Beach City College (2004-05) and Nicholls State (2006-07), and also played in the Arena Football League and for Rugby Union's Sedgley Park Tigers.
Galac is in his third season as strength and conditioning assistant. He also spent the 2021 season with the team as a seasonal strength and conditioning assistant.
Galac spent two seasons (2022-23) as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Temple University football team.
Prior to that he spent nine seasons with the New York Jets (2012-20), including eight as the team's head strength and conditioning coach.
He also spent seven seasons at Villanova University (2005-12), where he was the head strength and conditioning coach and the defensive line coach. He graduated from SUNY-Brockport where he was a member of the football team.
Munayer had been the Head of Athletic Performance, Olympic Sports at San Jose State since 2021, overseeing all 21 Olympic Sports at the school. His responsibilities also included management of daily operations of the athletic performance facility, as well as overseeing men's basketball and track & field athletic performance. He took part in a strength and conditioning fellowship with the Green Bay Packers in 2021 during Organized Team Activities (OTAs).
Munayer spent four years at the City College of San Francisco at the Director of Strength and Conditioning, where he oversaw the football program in addition to other sports.In addition, he spent time at Stanford University (2017-18) as sports performance coach and the University of California, Berkeley (2014-17) as strength and conditioning coach.
Munayer worked with the Cleveland Browns in the summer of 2014 as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. He was a strength and conditioning intern at Stanford in 2014, and got his start at Texas Tech where he was a strength and conditioning intern and graduate research and teaching assistant in 2013.
Wednesday, February 4
The Steelers made additions to their coaching staff, naming Brian Angelichio offensive coordinator, Danny Crossman special teams coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr. assistant head coach/secondary, Domata Peko defensive line coach and Pat Reilly defensive assistant.
Angelichio spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as the teams passing game coordinator/tight ends coach.
In 2025, tight end T.J. Hockenson had 51 receptions for 438 yards, an 8.59-yard average, and three touchdowns. In addition, tight end Josh Oliver had 15 receptions for 160 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
The Vikings also had prolific receivers in Justin Jefferson, who finished the season with 84 receptions for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Addison, who despite missing three games, finished the season with 42 receptions for 610 yards, a 14.52-yard average, and three touchdowns. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed seven games, completed 140 passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 2024, the Vikings were without Hockenson for the first seven games of the 2024 season, but upon his return in Week 9 he had 41 receptions for 455 yards, the fifth-most receptions and sixth-most yards by a tight end in that span. His 11.1-yards per catch also ranked third among tight ends with at least 35 receptions in 2024.
Angelichio helped Hockenson finish second among tight ends in receptions (95) and receptions of at least 20 yards (13) in 2023. He was also tied for second in receiving first downs (48) and fourth in receiving yards (960).
Hockenson's 95 receptions marked the most by a tight end in a single season in franchise history, topping Kyle Rudolph's 83 catches in 2016, and his 95 catches are the 18th most in a single season in NFL history among all TEs. He was also just 45 yards shy of surpassing TE Joe Senser (1,004 receiving yards in 1981) for the most receiving yards by a TE in a single season in franchise history.
The Vikings finished fifth in the NFL in passing yards per game (256.4) in 2023, and were one of just three teams to rank inside the top six in the league in passing yards per game in each of the past two seasons.
In his first season in Minnesota, the Vikings finished sixth in passing yards per game. Hockenson, who was acquired via an in-season trade with the Lions, earned his second Pro Bowl nod. Hockenson had 65 receptions for 730 receiving yards and four touchdowns following the trade.
Prior to joining the Vikings, Angelichio spent two seasons as the tight ends coach for the Carolina Panthers (2020-21).
While in Carolina, he worked with tight ends Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas. Tremble, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, had 20 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown in his rookie seasons.
Thomas had 20 receptions for 145 yards in 2020, while also blocking for Christian McCaffrey, who had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career.
Angelichio spent one season as the tight ends coach for the Washington Commanders (2019) where he helped Jeremy Sprinkle reach career highs in receptions (26), receiving yards (241) and touchdowns (one) at the time.
Coach Mike McCarthy had Angelichio as part of his staff in Green Bay for three seasons (2016-18) as the tight ends coach. Under Angelichio, tight end Jimmy Graham was the Packers second leading receiving in 2018 with 636 yards. Tight ends Jared Cook and Richard Rodgers combined for 648 yards during the 2016 season, when the Packers advanced to the NFC Championship game.
Angelichio spent two seasons (2015-16) as the Cleveland Browns tight ends coach. In 2015, Gary Barnidge had 79 receptions for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the Browns in receiving and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Angelichio started in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's tight ends coach from 2012-13. Bucs tight end Tim Wright, an undrafted rookie free agent, was the team's second-leading receiver in 2012, with 54 receptions for 571 yards.
Angelichio got his coaching start in the college ranks, including stops at Rutgers (2011), Pittsburgh (2006-10), Ithaca (1996-2005), where he served as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach from 2000-05, and SUNY-Brockport (1995).
Angelichio was a linebacker at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, where he was a four-year starter.
Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio's Coaching History:
2026: Pittsburgh Steelers, Offensive Coordinator
2022-25: Minnesota Vikings, Passing Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach
2020-21: Carolina Panthers, Tight Ends Coach
2019: Washington Commanders, Tight Ends Coach
2014-15: Cleveland Browns, Tight Ends Coach
2016-18: Green Bay Packers, Tight Ends Coach
2012-13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tight Ends Coach
2011: Rutgers, Tight Ends Coach
2007-10: University of Pittsburgh, Tight Ends Coach
2006: University of Pittsburgh, Offensive Assistant/Tight Ends Coach
2000-05: Ithaca, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
1999: Ithaca: Offensive Line Coach
1998: Ithaca: Wide Receivers Coach
1996-97: Ithaca, Linebackers Coach
1995: SUNY-Brockport, Secondary Coach
Crossman brings 22 years of NFL experience, including 20 years as a special teams coordinator, with him to Pittsburgh. He was most recently with the Miami Dolphins from 2019-24, with the added title of assistant head coach in 2021.
During his time in Miami, the Dolphins had four consecutive winning seasons (2020-23) for the first time since 1997-2003. The team also earned playoff berths in 2022-23, the first back-to-back postseason trips since 1997-2001.
Crossman worked with kicker Jason Sanders with the Dolphins, aiding him in becoming the most accurate kicker in franchise history. In seven seasons, six under Crossman's guidance, Sanders connected on 187 of 221 field goal attempts, 84.6%, and 259 of 268 extra points, 96.6%. Sanders had the longest active PAT streak in the NFL under Crossman, converting 69 straight attempts from Dec. 15, 2019 to Nov. 28, 2021, a total of 31 games.
Crossman spent two seasons coaching Pro Bowl punter Jake Bailey, who averaged 45.7 yards a punt in 2023, with a long of 66 yards, and 47.1 yards per punt in 2024, with a long of 64 yards.
His units were one of just two in the NFL to block a punt in three consecutive seasons (2020-22). Two of the blocked punts were returned for touchdowns, and the third was returned to the one-yard line.
Crossman also worked with punter Thomas Morstead in 2022, and the veteran had one of his best seasons, putting 28 punts inside the 20-yard line, one shy of a career-high. The Dolphins had a blocked punt that season that was returned for a touchdown.
His success with punters also was on display in 2021 with free agent Michael Palardy. Palardy finished third in the NFL with 31 punts inside the 20-yard line, and he ranked fifth in the NFL with 11 punts inside the 10-yard line, and third with five punts inside the five-yard line.
The Dolphins special teams unit was the seventh-best (per veteran sportswriter Rick Gosselin's yearly rankings) in the NFL in 2020, while Sanders earned All-Pro honors trying the franchise points record with 144. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month once. Sanders also won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice, and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month once, in 2019. Sanders also threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal attempt, which was named the NFL Bridgestone Clutch Performance Play of the Year at NFL Honors.
Crossman spent six seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2013-18). During his time with the Bills, the special teams unit was ranked second in 2014 and seventh in 2017, per Gosselin's rankings.
Crossman spent three seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Detroit Lions. During his time there, kicker Jason Hansen set a Lions record with 134 points in 2012, the most in his 21-year NFL career.
Crossman got his start in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers as a special teams assistant from 2003-04, before he was promoted to special teams coach (2005-06) and special teams coordinator (2007-09). The Panthers had three postseason appearances during Crossman's time, winning the NFC South twice and the NFC Championship in 2003.
He spent 10 seasons working in college football before moving to the NFL.
Crossman played college football at the University of Pittsburgh where he was an All-American and All-Big East defensive back. He also started at fullback in 1988. Crossman was a team captain and Most Valuable Player his senior season in 1989.
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman's Coaching History:
2026: Pittsburgh Steelers, Special Teams Coordinator
2022-2024: Miami Dolphins, Special Teams Coordinator
2021: Miami Dolphins, Assistant Head Coach & Special Teams Coordinator
2019-2020: Miami Dolphins, Special Teams Coordinator
2013-2018: Buffalo Bills, Special Teams Coordinator
2010-2012: Detroit Lions, Special Teams Coordinator
2007-2009: Carolina Panthers, Special Teams Coordinator
2005-2006: Carolina Panthers, Special Teams Coach
2003-2004: Carolina Panthers, Special Teams Assistant
2002: Michigan State, Linebackers Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2001: Georgia Tech, Defensive Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
1999-2000: Georgia Tech, Defensive Ends Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
1997-1998: UCF, Defensive Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
1996: Western Kentucky, Outside Linebackers Coach
1994-1995: Western Kentucky, Defensive Backs Coach
1993: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coach
Whitt spent the last two seasons (2024-25) as the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator.
In 2024, the Commanders reached the NFC Championship game, with linebacker Bobby Wagner one of the key contributors to their success. Wagner was selected to his 12th Pro Bowl and was a second-team Associated Press All-Pro selection. In addition, linebacker Frankie Luvu was named second-team AP All-Pro.
The Commanders were ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks per attempt (9.52%) and ranked 11th in the league with 43 total sacks.
Whitt came to the Commanders where he was the secondary/defensive passing game coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys for three seasons (2021-23) under Coach Mike McCarthy.
Under his guidance, the Cowboys led the NFL with 59 interceptions during his tenure.
The Cowboys defense ranked fifth in passing yards allowed per game (187.4) and had 17 interceptions, tied for eighth in the NFL, in 2023. Cornerback DaRon Bland set an NFL single-season record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five, while earning Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro honors. The Cowboys defense also allowed only 27 plays of 25 plus yards, the second fewest in the NFL.
In 2022, the Cowboys defense ranked eighth in net pass yards per game (200.9), tied for 10th in completion percentage (62.7%), seventh in interceptions (16) and tied for fourth in big plays allowed with 24 of 25 plus yards.
Trevon Diggs flourished, recording three interceptions, 14 passes defensed and a forced incompletion percentage of 12.1, per Pro Football Focus, as he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Bland, who was drafted in the fifth round, led the team with five interceptions.
In Whitt's first season with the Cowboys, the pass defense showed marked improvement, ranking in the top 10 in opponent completion percentage (third) and interceptions (first). Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions, tying a franchise record.
Whitt spent the 2020 season as the pass game coordinator/secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and the 2019 season as the Cleveland Browns pass game coordinator/secondary. The Browns ranked seventh against the pass, allowing 216.9 yards per game. The defense tied for eighth in the NFL with 14 interceptions.
Whitt was also with McCarthy in Green Bay, where he started as defensive quality control coach (2008), before being promoted to cornerbacks coach (2009-17) and pass game coordinator (2018).
During his time with the Packers, he was part of Green Bay's Super Bowl Championship team. During his tenure there, the Packers had a league high 176 interceptions, while ranking ninth in opponent passer rating (83.2). In addition, the defense ranked seventh in opponent completion percentage (59.8) and touchdown-to-inception ratio (1.34).
In his first three seasons in Green Bay, the Packers led the NFL in interceptions twice (2009-10), with a total of 85 in three seasons.
Whitt got his NFL start with the Atlanta Falcons as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2007.
He began his coaching career in the college ranks. He was the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville (2003-06), the receivers coach at The Citadel (2002) and a student assistant at Auburn (2000-01).
Assistant Head Coach/Secondary Coach Joe Whitt's Coaching History:
2026: Pittsburgh Steelers, Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2024-2025: Washington Commanders, Defensive coordinator
2021-2023: Dallas Cowboys, Pass game coordinator/secondary
2020: Atlanta Falcons, Pass game coordinator/secondary
2019: Cleveland Browns, Pass game coordinator/secondary
2018: Green Bay Packers, Pass game coordinator
2009-2017: Green Bay Packers, Cornerbacks coach
2008: Green Bay Packers, Defensive quality control coach
2007: Atlanta Falcons, Assistant defensive backs coach
2003-2006: Louisville Cardinals, Cornerbacks coach & recruiting coordinator
2002: The Citadel Bulldogs, Wide receivers coach
2000-2001: Auburn Tigers, Student assistant
Peko enters his third year of coaching after spending 15 seasons playing in the NFL.
Peko was the defensive line coach for the University of Colorado in 2025. He also spent the 2024 season as a defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys, working with Coach Mike McCarthy during that time.
Peko was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth-round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the 123rd overall pick.
He appeared in 214 career games, starting 194. He finished his career with 616 tackles, 321 of them solo stops, 20 sacks, 47 tackles for a loss and 14 passes defensed.
Peko spent 11 of his 15 seasons in the NFL with the Bengals (2006-16), starting 156 of the 171 games he appeared in. He recorded 517 tackles, 264 of them solo stops, 18.5 sacks and 39 tackles for a loss during his time in Cincinnati.
Peko spent two seasons with the Denver Broncos (2017-18), where he started all 30 games he appeared in, and recorded 1.5 sacks.
Peko finished out his playing career playing one season with the Baltimore Ravens (2019) where he appeared in seven games, with three starts, and one season with the Arizona Cardinals (2020), appearing in six games with five starts.
Peko spent two seasons at the College of the Canyons (2002-03), before transferring to Michigan State (2004-05).
Reilly was an offensive assistant for the Houston Texans in 2025, advancing to the divisional playoffs in his first season with the team.
Prior to his time with the Texans, Reilly spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the assistant linebackers coach and defensive quality control coach.
He got his start in college football, as a defensive analyst for Alabama, a defensive analyst and an assistant to the head coach and defensive coordinator at UCLA, as well as a defensive quality control coach working with the defensive line at UCLA.
In addition, Reilly spent time at SUNY-Brockport, Syracuse University and SUNY-Cortland in multiple roles.
Monday, February 2
3:30 p.m.
The Steelers continued to add to their coaching staff, as they named James Campen offensive line coach, Jahri Evans assistant offensive line coach, Ramon Chinyoung Sr. running backs coach, Adam Henry receivers coach and Tom Arth will remain as quarterbacks coach.
Campen brings a wealth of experience with him, including playing, coaching and scouting in the NFL.
Campen most recently was with the Green Bay Packers as a scouting consultant.
Prior to his time in that role, he spent two seasons (2022-23) with the Carolina Panthers as the team's offensive line coach.
Campen spent the 2021 season with the Houston Texans and the 2020 season with the Los Angeles Chargers as the offensive line coach. He also spent the 2019 season as the associate head coach/offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns.
Campen spent 15 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, starting as an assistant offensive line coach/quality control coach in 2004-05, and assistant offensive line coach in 2006. He was promoted to offensive line coach in 2007 and then added the title of run game coordinator in 2018. He worked with Coach Mike McCarthy during his time with the Packers.
Under Campen, the Packers had seven Pro Bowl offensive linemen.
Campen played eight seasons in the NFL, three with the New Orleans Saints (1986-88) and five with the Packers (1989-93).
Evans spent the last three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, including the 2025 season as the team's assistant offensive line coach.
Prior to his most recent role, Evans was an offensive assistant with the Saints in 2023-24. He also worked as a training camp intern for the team in 2022.
Evans was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the 108th overall selection.
He spent 11 seasons with the Saints, finishing out his NFL playing career with the Green Bay Packers in 2017 under McCarthy. He started a total of 183 career games, 169 with the Saints, as well as 10 Saints postseason games.
Evans was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time Associated Press All-Pro selection and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010's All-Decade Team.
During his time with the Saints, the team finished in the top 10 in total offense in all 11 seasons. The Saints gave up only 196 sacks during that time frame, the lowest in the NFC and second lowest in the NFL.
Evans was selected to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2020, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, and the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and Saints Ring of Honor in 2024. He was also a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 and a finalist for the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025.
Evans played college football at Bloomsburg, where he was a finalist for the Division II Gene Upshaw Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2004 and 2005.
Chinyoung just finished his third season with the Dallas Cowboys, and his first as an assistant offensive line coach. He spent the previous two seasons as an assistant offensive line/quality control coach.
The Cowboys finished the 2025 season ranked second in total offense, with the pass game ranked second and the run game ranked ninth. The Cowboys were ranked second in first downs per game, fourth in total yards per play, and sixth in sacks per pass play.
In 2024, Chinyoung assisted the offensive line to help the offense average 327.5 yards-per-game and 100.3 rushing yards-per-game.
In his first season with the Cowboys, Chinyoung worked with offensive lineman Zack Martin, who was named first-team Associated Press All-Pro, and Tyler Smith, who earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. Both players were also voted to the Pro Bowl.
He broke into the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Denver Broncos.
Prior to the NFL, Chinyoung spent time coaching in the high school ranks. He was the head coach/campus coordinator at Fort Bend Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas from 2020-21. He also spent eight seasons (2012-19) at Westfield High School in Houston as the assistant offensive line coach (2012-15), before being promoted to assistant head coach/offensive line. (2016-19).
He attended South University where he was named first-team All-SWAC twice and a first-team All-Louisiana selection in 2009.
Henry spent the last three seasons (2023-25) as the receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills' offense finished second in the AFC, fourth overall in the NFL, in 2025, and seventh in the AFC in the passing game. The Bills were second in net passing yards per game in the AFC.
Henry worked with receivers Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, Stephon Diggs and Khalil Shakir, while with the Bills. Under Henry, Davis had a career-high seven touchdown receptions in 2023, and averaged 16.6 yards per reception.
In 2022, Henry spent one season at Indiana University, where he was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Henry spent two seasons as the receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys (2020-21). In 2021, he helped CeeDee Lamb earn his first Pro Bowl selection when he finished the season with 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns. He also helped guide Lamb in 2020 establish a rookie Cowboys' record with 74 receptions, the previous one held by Bob Hayes at 46.
Henry spent two seasons as the receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns (2018-19), and in his second year both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both had more than 1,000 yards receiving, the first time in franchise history the team had a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.
He also spent time as the receivers coach for the New York Giants (2016-17) and San Francisco 49ers (2015). Henry was the passing game coordinator and receivers coach at LSU from 2012-14.
He broke into the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, as an offensive quality control (2007-08) and tight ends coach (2009-11).
He began his coaching career at McNeese State, starting as the receivers coach (1997-2005) and then offensive coordinator/assistant head coach (2006).
He played college football at McNeese State, and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1994.
Arth joined the Steelers in 2024, spending the last two seasons in his current role of quarterbacks coach.
In 2025, Arth worked with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, while helping develop rookie Will Howard, although he didn't see any playing time due to a training camp injury.
The offense averaged 202.4 passing yards per game, with 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
In 2024 he worked with the starting combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers averaged 192.0 passing yards per game, while having 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Prior to joining the Steelers, Arth spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers where he was the team's passing game specialist. During his time with the Chargers, he was part of a staff that helped the offense rank fifth in passing offense and eleventh in total offense during his tenure. He also helped quarterback Justin Herbert continue to set NFL records.
Arth also spent nine seasons coaching in the college ranks, including three as the head coach at the University of Akron (2019-21). He also was the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2017-18) and his alma mater, John Carroll, for four seasons (2013-16).
Arth's time in the NFL began when he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He spent three seasons with the Colts (2003-05).
Monday, February 2
2 p.m.
The Steelers named Jason Simmons defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs, Scott McCurley inside linebackers coach and Steve Scarnecchia chief of staff on Monday.
Simmons, who played for the Steelers, spent the last two seasons as the defensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders and is entering his 16th season in the NFL. While with the Commanders, the pass defense was ranked third in the NFL in 2024, allowing 189.5 yards per game. Their opponents completed only 61.9% of their passes, ranking fourth in the NFL.
Prior to his time in Washington, Simmons was the defensive backs/pass game coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons (2022-23). His unit was responsible for three of the Raiders' five defensive touchdowns in 2023.
Simmons was the pass game coordinator/secondary coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21. Under his guidance, safety Jeremy Chinn was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team in 2020, leading all rookies with 116 tackles, while also winning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors twice.
He got his start in coaching in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers under Coach Mike McCarthy, spending nine seasons with the team.
He spent four seasons as a coaching administrator (2011-14), before being the assistant special teams coach for three seasons (2015-17). Simmons was the secondary coach in 2018, and the defensive backs coach in 2019.
Simmons was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Steelers, before signing with the Houston Texans in 2002, where he spent six seasons.
Simmons appeared in 212 games in his career, recorded 186 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions.
McCurley, who is a Western Pennsylvania native, joined the Steelers in 2025 and is entering his 20th season in the NFL. In his first season in Pittsburgh, McCurley helped linebackers Patrick Queen (120) and Payton Wilson (109) lead the team in tackles.
McCurley spent five seasons (2020-24) as the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys and a total of 19 years in the NFL, 16 in a coaching role.
McCurley oversaw the Cowboys linebackers who recorded 22 of the team's 52 sacks in 2024, while Micah Parsons recorded a team-high 12 sacks for the season, becoming the first player since Reggie White in 1982 to record at least 12 sacks in their first four seasons. Parsons went on to be named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl Games in 2024. Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks led the team with a career-high 145 tackles, including three tackles for a loss, three sacks and a team-high three forced fumbles, despite missing two games injured.
Injuries caused some shuffling at the linebacker position for the Cowboys in 2023, but the unit responded. Second-year linebacker Damone Clark moved to middle linebacker and led the team with a career-high 115 tackles, including four tackles for a loss. Markquese Bell moved from safety to linebacker and finished second on the team with 103 tackles.
The Cowboys defense was ranked third in rushing touchdowns allowed in 2022 with nine, and ninth in opponent negative rushing play percentage (9.8%). Leighton Vander Esch started 14 games, finishing second on the defense with 100 tackles, while Anthony Barr had 61 tackles. Rookie Damone Clark also stepped up under McCurley's guidance, and after missing the first seven games of the season injured, he recorded 50 tackles and two forced fumbles.
In 2021, first-round pick Micah Parsons set a Cowboys' rookie record with 13 sacks, tied for third-most in NFL history, and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Vander Esch and fellow linebacker Keanu Neal also had strong seasons and were second and third respectively on the team in tackles.
McCurley first broke into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers with Coach Mike McCarthy where he spent 13 seasons in multiple roles. He started off in coaching administration (2006-08) before spending five seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2009-13). McCurley was the team's assistant linebackers coach from 2014-17 and in 2018 was a defensive assistant.,
McCurley, who was born in New Castle, Pa. and attended Mohawk Area High School, joined the University of Pittsburgh football team as a walk-on linebacker and went on to earn a scholarship after his red-shirt season. He was a four-year letterwinner (1999-2002) and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in movement science with a coaching minor. He spent three years as a graduate assistant at Pitt, before breaking into the NFL ranks.
Scarnecchia is entering his 17th season in the NFL, his sixth in the role of chief of staff. He spent the last two seasons (2024-25) as chief of staff for the Atlanta Falcons, and the previous three seasons (2121-23) in the same role with the New York Jets. He also was the assistant to the head coach with the Falcons from 2015-20.
In his roles in Atlanta and New York, he was responsible for coordinating the team's daily meetings and practice schedules and the overall football activities calendar. In addition, he established the budget for football operations and scheduling practices and organized team and staff events and provided administrative assistance to the coaching and operations staff.
Friday, January 30
The Steelers named Patrick Graham the team's defensive coordinator.
Graham spent the last four seasons as the Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator, his 17th year coaching in the NFL.
During his NFL coaching career, Graham has held a variety of defensive roles with the New England Patriots (2009-15), New York Giants (2016-17, 2020-21), Green Bay Packers (2018), Miami Dolphins (2019) and Raiders (2022-25). He has been a defensive coordinator each of the last seven years, including also holding the title of assistant head coach with the Giants from 2020-21.
Teams that Graham has been a part of have qualified for the playoffs eight times, with seven division titles, two conference championships and a win in Super Bowl XLIX with New England.
The Raiders defense ranked in the Top 15 in multiple categories under Graham's guidance over the last four years, with players like linebacker Robert Spillane and defensive end Maxx Crosby flourishing, with Crosby earning four of his five Pro Bowl selections under Graham's guidance (2022-25).
During the 2024 season, the Raiders' defense ranked in the Top 15 in total defense (333.1 yards/game), rush defense (116.9 yards/game) and pass defense (216.2 yards/game). A total of 18 different players recorded at least a half sack, the most in single-season Raiders' history.
Spillane had a career-high158 tackles in 2024, ranked third in the NFL, and set a Raiders single-season record. Crosby was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year in 2024, with 45 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, seven and a half sacks and five passes defensed in just 12 games. The defensive line as a whole accounted for 20 passes defensed, which ranked second-most among defensive lines units in the NFL in 2024.
The Raiders' defense finished ninth in the NFL in scoring defense (19.5 points allowed/game) in 2023, a 17-place improvement from the 2022 season. The defense also went from 28th overall in the NFL in 2022, to 15th overall in 2023.
Prior to joining the Raiders, Graham was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2020-21. During his time with the Giants the defense saw significant improvement, going from 20th in the NFL in rush defense before he arrived, to 10th in his first season. The pass defense was ranked 16th in the NFL in his first season, after being ranked 28th the year prior to his arrival.
In 2021, the Giants defense was tied for fourth in the NFL in passes defensed (83) and tied for 12th in interceptions. The defense also held teams to 225.8 passing yards per game, which ranked 15th in the NFL.
Graham's arrival in New York signified an improvement for the Giants defense in 2020, ranking ninth in scoring defense (21 points allowed per game), and 12th in total defense (349.3 yards allowed per game) after finishing 27th (377.3 yards a game) after finished 27th in 2019. It was their best defensive finish since 2016 when the Giants ranked 10th in the NFL.
Among those who found immediate success under Graham were inside linebacker Blake Martinez, Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry and safety Logan Ryan. Martinez led the Giants, and was ranked third in the NFL, with 151 tackles. Bradberry led the team with three interceptions and was tied for second in the NFL with 18 passes defensed. Ryan made a switch to safety and finished second on the team with 92 tackles.
Patrick Graham's Coaching History:
2026: Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator
2022-25: Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Coordinator
2020-21: New York Giants Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2019: Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator
2018: Green Bay Packers Inside Linebackers/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
2016-17: New York Giants Defensive Line Coach
2014-15: New England Patriots Linebackers Coach
2012-13: New England Patriots Defensive Line Coach
2011: New England Patriots Linebackers Coach
2010: New England Patriots Defensive Assistant
2009: New England Patriots Coaching Assistant
2007-08: Notre Dame Graduate Assistant
2005-06: Richmond Tight Ends
2004: Richmond Assistant Defensive Line
2002-03: Wagner College Graduate Assistant
