Mike McCarthy is wasting no time in building his coaching staff at the Pittsburgh Steelers. But in the process, he’s not letting go of everyone who has worked under former head coach Mike Tomlin. After taking on the center role, McCarthy has retained three key assistants from Tomlin’s staff. The news comes just as the Steelers inch closer to finding their new defensive coordinator.

“Mike McCarthy expected to bring back three members of Mike Tomlin’s staff – linebackers coach Scott McCurley, who was on his staff in Dallas; QB coach Tom Arth and secondary coach Gerald Alexander, per sources,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tweeted on X.

Mike McCarthy has recently joined Pittsburgh out of his love for coaching. Now, his new move allows him to capitalize on these coaches’ familiarity with the organization and their knowledge of it while shaping the staff in his own way. Now, here’s a closer look at each coach’s resume, starting with McCurley. He joined Pittsburgh last season after working with McCarthy for five seasons at the Dallas Cowboys.

His existing relationship and understanding of the new coach’s defensive expectations could give the Steelers some stability. Meanwhile, quarterback coach Tom Arth’s return could be crucial for the franchise. He has served in that role for the past two seasons and has shown clear progress. Under his leadership, Pittsburgh improved to 202.4 passing yards per game in 2025 from 186.1 in 2023.

The unit also increased touchdown passes to 21 from 13 two years ago. And if quarterback Aaron Rodgers decides to return, Arth’s presence will offer much-needed comfort and consistency.  Lastly, Gerald Alexander ‌served as the secondary coach last season. Before this stint, he worked for one more year under Tomlin from 2022 to 2023. However, the Steelers are reportedly still exploring options for the role.

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, they have requested permission to interview the Cleveland Browns‘ special teams coordinator, Bubba Ventrone, who is a Pittsburgh native. Meanwhile, Dulac also reported that the Steelers are close to naming a new defensive coordinator. 

Mike McCarthy’s search for a new DC may be over

The Steelers’ defense was managed by Teryl Austin from 2022 to 2025. Before taking on the role of defensive coordinator, he worked in multiple roles, including senior defensive assistant and secondary coach. But with his contract set to expire and the unit’s lackluster performance this season, the team has decided to make a change on that side of the ball. So, who could be the new face replacing him? 

“New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy is close to bringing in Patrick Graham as his defensive coordinator, per sources,” Gerry Dulac wrote on X. 

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Patrick Graham has a long and diverse coaching background. He began his career in college football as a graduate assistant at Wagner in 2002, then held multiple roles at Richmond, Notre Dame, and Toledo. In 2009, he made his NFL debut with the New England Patriots, where he worked his way up from coaching assistant to linebackers coach and defensive line coach. 

He later joined the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers, earning a reputation as a detail-oriented defensive coach. Most recently, Graham was the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders after being hired by Josh McDaniels. If he heads to Pittsburgh as defensive coordinator, he will have a major opportunity to mentor big names such as linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive tackle Cam Heyward, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. 

Moreover, he’ll be guiding young talent, including cornerback Joey Porter Jr., linebacker Nick Herbig, and nose tackle Keeanu Benton. With a new coordinator likely on the way, the Steelers are aiming to restore their defensive identity and set a high standard for the future.