Grady Brown is in his third season as the team's secondary coach. He was hired on Feb. 16, 2021.
With the help of Brown, the Steelers defense tied for the NFL lead with 20 interceptions in 2022. Minkah Fitzpatrick was named AP First Team All-Pro for the third time in his career. His six interceptions in 2022 were the most by a Steeler in a single season since 2010 (Troy Polamalu) and tied for 12th-most in a single season in franchise history.
In his first season with the Steelers, Brown's defensive backs combined for 11 interceptions, led by cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon who snagged three picks in just nine games. Fitzpatrick tallied a career-high 124 tackles on the season - his first NFL season with 100+ tackles.
Brown previously served as either defensive coordinator or coached in the secondary at the University of Houston (2021), McNeese State (2020), Old Dominion (2019), Louisville (2018), Alabama State (2017), Birmingham Southern (2016), South Carolina (2012-15), Southern Miss (2010-11) and Alabama State (2002-07). He started his collegiate coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at Alabama A&M (2001).
Brown also held two National Football League minority coaching internships, first with Seattle in 2004 and then with Kansas City in 2007.
During his tenure at South Carolina, Brown helped guide units that finished in the top 25 nationally in both scoring and total defense. The Gamecocks surrendered just 315.5 yards/game, which ranked 11th in the country in total defense in 2012. South Carolina also ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense that season when it allowed only 18.2 points/game. The Gamecocks improved in 2013 and ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (20.3 points/game).
Brown's secondary ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and 12th in the nation in pass defense in 2013, allowing 196.2 passing yards/game. South Carolina finished second in the SEC and 13th in the nation in interceptions with 18.
Brown also tutored safety D.J. Swearinger, who was a second round NFL Draft pick in 2013 out of South Carolina and just completed his eighth season in the NFL.
Brown helped lead Southern Miss to a Conference USA Championship in 2011. His secondary ranked fourth nationally in interceptions, seventh in pass efficiency defense, 10th in passing yards allowed/attempt and set an NCAA single-season record with eight interceptions returned for touchdowns.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Brown played defensive back at Alabama A&M and graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1998.
