The panic is more about optics than football
The loudest criticism comes from two places:
- Fans wanting a “big name,” and
- People anchoring to Miami’s 2019 ranking or the Giants’ 2021 struggles.
Those seasons happened — but they also came with gutted rosters, rebuilds in progress, and personnel mismatches that would’ve sunk almost any coordinator. Steelers fans know this feeling well: when the cupboard is bare, the scheme doesn’t matter.
Take Graham’s four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, for example. He survived three different head coaches (Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, Pete Carroll) and nine starting quarterbacks (Derek Carr, Jarrett Stidham, Aidan O’Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Gardener Minshew, Desmond Ridder, Geno Smith, and Kenny Pickett!)
That volatility saw the Raiders routinely at the bottom of offensive production, including dead-last in yards and points last season, leaving their defense on the field for long periods of time.
Graham had similar stops in Miami and New York (Giants) as the team transitioned. The Dolphins went with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen in 2019, while the Giants rolled with Daniel Jones primarily — with a smattering of Colt McCoy, Mike Glennon, and Jake Fromm — as those offenses petered to 25th, 31st, and 31st in points scored.
Graham’s recent work tells a different story
What should carry more weight is what he did most recently. Graham’s Raiders defense finished 13th in total defense in 2025, a massive leap considering the lack of star power and the constant churn on that roster. Players consistently praised his clarity, communication, and teaching — three areas where the Steelers defense has needed a reset.
Graham worked miracles considering what he was given:
Got surprised with the question on air and said I was guesstimating.
Actual numbers:
2025:
– 31st in defensive spending
– 14th DVOA2023:
– 26th in defensive spending
– 8rd in DVOA https://t.co/IBYB560uDX— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) January 23, 2026
Despite working with mainly 4-3 defenses, Graham is not married to one rigid system. He has run Vic Fangio‑influenced match quarters, hybrid fronts, and pressure packages depending on what his personnel could actually execute. That adaptability is exactly what this roster needs as it transitions into a new era.
A fit that makes more sense than people think
Mike McCarthy has always leaned toward steady, experienced coordinators who can run their side of the ball without drama. Graham fits that mold. He’s not a boom‑or‑bust experiment. He’s a stabilizer.
And unlike some of the situations he inherited elsewhere, he’s walking into a defense with:
- Established stars
- A defined identity
- Continuity in the front seven
- A fan base that expects physical, disciplined football
Maxx Crosby was easily the Raiders biggest defensive star during that period. In four seasons under Graham, Crosby racked up 44.5 sacks and 90 tackles-for-loss, with two All-Pro team nods. Pittsburgh is banking on Graham’s ability to untap similar potential in T.J. Watt and young edge rushers Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer.
The Steelers set of pass rushers, combined with Cameron Heyward and young investments in the defensive line, would give the aspiring defensive coordinator the best set of talent he’s had as a coordinator since shepherding Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence in New York. Combined with a highly paid set defense that includes Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Queen, Graham could be set to have his best year as a coordinator yet.
Bottom line
This is the kind of environment where Graham has historically produced his best work. Patrick Graham isn’t an all-time household name as a defensive coordinator, but he’s also not the liability some fans are imagining. His resume shows a coach who elevates what he’s given — and the Steelers are giving him more than he’s had in years.
The panic is emotional. The hire is logical. And the results will likely land somewhere between “solid” and “better than expected.”
