Gerald Alexander is in his second year as the team's assistant defensive backs coach.
In his first season with Pittsburgh, Alexander assisted with a Steelers secondary that tied for first in the League in interceptions with 20 in 2022. Minkah Fitzpatrick led the group with a career-high and League-leading six interceptions, earning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.
Before coming to Pittsburgh, Alexander served as defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2020-21. In 2020, Alexander's defensive backs tied for first in the NFL in interceptions (18) with the help of a career year from CB Xavien Howard under his guidance. Howard led the League in interceptions (10) and pass breakups (20), was named to the Pro Bowl and earned First Team All-Pro honors for the first time.
Alexander also held two National Football League minority coaching internships, first with Tennessee in 2015 and then with Tampa Bay in 2016.
Alexander began his coaching career in 2013 as an undergraduate assistant at Arkansas State in 2013. In 2014, he served as a graduate assistant for Washington. He then went on to coach defensive backs for Indiana State (2015), Montana State (2016) and California (2017-19).
As a player, Alexander was chosen in the second round (61st overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. Alexander appeared in 44 games, starting 30 at safety over his five-year NFL career with Detroit (2007-08), Jacksonville (2009-10), Carolina (2010), Miami (2011) and the New York Jets (2011). He finished with 154 tackles (116 solo), 14 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 2.0 sacks.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Alexander played safety at Boise State (2003-06) and graduated with a degree in communications.
