The Pittsburgh Steelers have started their search to fill the inside linebackers coaching position after Aaron Curry left for to the New York Jets . According to Noah Strackbein of Sports Illustrated , the Steelers are interviewing former Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach Scott McCurley for the vacant position.
McCurley is a Western Pennsylvania native, born in New Castle and played at Mohawk Area High School. He also played at Pitt. Following graduation he remained with the program as a defensive graduate assistant.
McCurley started his NFL coaching career as coaching administrator intern with the Green Bay Packers in 2006 and worked his way up the ranks with multiple roles until being named a defensive assistant in 2018. He joined Mike McCarthy in Dallas in 2020 and served as the linebackers coach for five seasons. The Cowboys did not retain McCurley as part of the changeover of their coaching staff.
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A former first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks , Curry spent four seasons coaching at UNC Charlotte, and then three with the Seahawks before joining the Steelers . Curry coached defensive ends at Charlotte and outside linebackers with the Seahawks, but inside backers with the Steelers, which more closely aligned with where he played as a pro.
The Steelers struggled to defend the run down the stretch run of the 2024 season, giving up big totals to Baltimore Ravens back Derrick Henry twice over the final five weeks of the season.
Team president Art Rooney II called the linebacker position a strength during his end-of-season press conference, and most of that group will be set to return in 2025. Queen, Payton Wilson , Cole Holcomb and Mark Robinson are all under contract for next season, while Elandon Roberts and special teamer Tyler Matakevich are set to become free agents.
Pittsburgh did not have an assistant inside linebackers coach on the staff, though former Steelers inside linebackers Vince Williams worked as a de facto assistant defensive line coach this season, and Ryan Shazier as assistant running backs coach, and could be in consideration for a promotion.
Before Curry, Jerry Olsavsky was the team's inside linebackers coach from 2015-22. He spent the last two seasons coaching at Duquesne.
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