Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin missed out on the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator position. Austin interviewed for the position last week. The Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as their defensive coordinator, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN .
Jones has been one of Brian Flores' most trusted defensive coaches the past three seasons, and he also has coached under Vance Joseph and Mike Zimmer.
The Steelers set their assistant coaches free after longtime head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down after the season.
The Las Vegas Raiders , Arizona Cardinals , Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills still have a vacant head coach positions left, so perhaps Austin still could get a DC role. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith landed an OC job with Ohio State.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Teryl Austin during a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Washington Commanders ranked dead-last in the NFL in terms of yards allowed and 27th in points allowed this season. They produced the second-fewest turnovers and gave up the most first downs. After a 5-12 campaign, they agreed to part ways with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn took play-calling duties from Whitt after 10 games, leaving the writing on the wall that Whitt wouldn't be around next season.
The Steelers graded out 17th in the league in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed. Austin, a Western Pennsylvania native, had been in Pittsburgh since 2019, when he joined Tomlin's staff as a senior defensive assistant/secondary coach. He replaced Keith Butler as the team's defensive coordinator in 2022.
Austin has also spent time on coaching staffs for the Cincinnati Bengals (2018), Detroit Lions (2014-17), Baltimore Ravens (2011-13), Arizona Cardinals (2007-09) and Seattle Seahawks (2003-06). He was a defensive coordinator in Detroit and Cincinnati.
Brendan Howe contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Teryl Austin Misses Out on DC Position with NFC Team
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