The Pittsburgh Steelers have a Western Pennsylvania native as their next head coach in Mike McCarthy. The team could also hire one of their former players as defensive coordinator — Jason Simmons.
NFL insider Mark Kaboly reported Tuesday the Steelers will interview Simmons for their defensive coordinator role.
Simmons not only has ties to the Steelers, but he coached on McCarthy’s staff with the Green Bay Packers from 2011-18. The past two years, Simmons has served as the defensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders.
Simmons is the current defensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders. Simmons coached with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay for 8 years (2011-18).
Simmons
Simmons has 15 years of NFL coaching experience. He also spent 10 years in the league as a defensive back.
The Steelers drafted Simmons at No. 137 overall in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent four years with the Steelers, the last of which he appeared in 12 games for the NFL’s No. 1 defense.
In four campaigns, Simmons played 49 games in Pittsburgh. He made 72 combined tackles and recorded four forced fumbles with two pass defenses.
Simmons played his final six years with the Houston Texans.
Steelers Interviewing Jason Simmons for Defensive Coordinator Opening: Report
Simmons is the first known coach the Steelers announced as a candidate for their defensive coordinator role. The team’s first offensive coordinator candidate emerged Tuesday as well.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Steelers will interview Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for the OC opening. Like Simmons, Wells previously worked under McCarthy.
Simmons’s first coaching opportunity came with McCarthy in Green Bay. Simmons was the Packers secondary coach from 2011-15. He was an assistant special teams coach the following two years before then serving as the Green Bay secondary coach again during 2018.
In 2019, Simmons stayed on Green Bay’s staff as a defensive backs coach under new head coach Matt LaFleur.
Since 2020, Simmons has been an assistant for the Commanders, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders. He held the defensive pass game coordinator role in his job title with all three organizations.
Steelers Replacing Teryl Austin But Keeping 3-4 Scheme
McCarthy mostly discussed his plans for the offense and quarterback development during his introductory press conference Tuesday. The new Steelers head coach told reporters that he will be the team’s new offensive play-caller.
However, McCarthy did indicate he plans to keep the Steelers 3-4 scheme. The organization has used that defense since the end of the Chuck Noll era.
In 2007, Mike Tomlin kept the Pittsburgh 3-4 defense despite coming from a 4-3 scheme as a defensive coordinator.
Tomlin, though, retained Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2007. McCarthy is looking for a new DC to replace Teryl Austin.
Under Tomlin, Austin became the Steelers defensive coordinator in 2022. Austin took over for Keith Butler, who retired after 2021.
Over the past four years, the Steelers have been one of the best defenses at forcing turnovers. But the unit gave up more and more yards as Austin’s DC tenure progressed.
The 26th ranking the Steelers held in yards allowed last season was their lowest mark since being 28th in the category during 1988.
In 18 years as a head coach, McCarthy’s teams have finished top 10 in yards allowed just three times.
Mike McCarthy Considering Ex-Steelers DB for Defensive Coordinator Role: Report