League insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Tuesday night former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni landed the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders. While great for Azzanni, that wasn’t exactly good news for former Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
The ex-Steelers DC now has the distinction of being the final assistant from Mike Tomlin’s last Pittsburgh staff without a job this offseason.
“With Zach Azzanni’s Raiders hire, only one Steelers coordinator or head position coach has yet to fine a new job,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora on X.
“Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.”
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Austin served as Steelers defensive coordinator from 2022-25. He also held the defensive coordinator role with the Detroit Lions from 2014-17 and Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.
With Pittsburgh, Austin’s defense was very opportunistic. The unit was ranked top 10 in takeaways from 2023-25. The Steelers held the No. 1 spot in that category during 2024.
But they finished outside the top half in yards allowed during 2023 and 2025. This past season, Austin’s defense finished 26th in yards yielded and 17th in points allowed.
Teryl Austin Still Searching for Next NFL Job
After Tomlin’s resignation following the AFC wild card loss, Steelers assistant coaches began to scurry for new jobs around the league.
Some found positions rather easily. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy.
Others such as offensive line coach Pat Meyer went to the Buffalo Bills almost immediately. More recently, outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin and Azzanni landed in the AFC west.
A couple Tomlin assistants — quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley — remained in Pittsburgh on McCarthy’s staff.
But Austin still sits in coaching free agency. He interviewed for the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator role. The Commanders, though, hired Daronte Jones.
There are no defensive coordinator roles left.
Austin’s Resume as NFL Assistant Coach
Austin appeared to be a coach on the rise on the Lions coaching staff last decade. But the team’s defense had its best season in 2014, which was Austin’s first year.
Granted, the Lions lost All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh entering 2015 NFL free agency. But similar to what happened in Pittsburgh, Austin’s defense over his Detroit tenure regressed.
In 2018, the Bengals had one of the worst statistical defenses in league history under Austin. Cincinnati finished 21st in takeaways, 30th in points allowed and last in yards yielded.
After that failure, Austin became a senior defensive assistant and secondary coach under Tomlin in 2019. He served in that role for three seasons.
In 2022, he took over for retiring Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler.
Austin’s best case scenario for 2026 is to find a similar type role as a senior assistant and position coach. After a few seasons in that type of role, perhaps Austin will get another shot at a defensive coordinator job.
Austin will turn 61 years old in March.
He began his NFL coaching career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2003. Austin coached defensive backs with the Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens before landing the Lions DC job.
Austin possesses 22 years of NFL coaching experience. He’s also coached in college for 13 seasons.
Ex-Steelers DC Teryl Austin Gets Bad Update Amid 2026 NFL Offseason