Steelers DC Teryl Austin explains defensive play call process, dealing with fan criticism

After consecutive games in which his unit was exploited and amid mounting fan frustration with the results he’s tasked with overseeing, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin vows to stay the course when it comes to communicating with his players.

“I just continue to look at my process to make sure it’s right and try to help our guys,” Austin said before Thursday’s practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, “because that’s my job to try to help our guys play better. Playing well, playing bad, it’s all the same (approach).

“I think you always have to do that. We just happen to be in a bad stretch right now. And so, the process for me doesn’t change; it’s just how do I get all that across to the guys?”

Steelers DC Teryl Austin on navigating the struggles of his unit in communicating with his players pic.twitter.com/v1X74Wf5JH

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 30, 2025

The Steelers’ defense has allowed 68 points and 924 yards over its past two outings — each a defeat — while not generating a takeaway in more than a month.

The obvious result has been criticism from the outside for the man who leads what is the NFL’s highest-paid defense and is the steward for a unit that during training camp was boastful it could be one of the best in the NFL.

Instead, as the season approaches its midway point the Steelers rank 30^th in total defense.

Austin says he “doesn’t hear” the fan angst directed toward the Steelers’ defense in general or him in particular.

“My concern is with the guys in the building and how I can get our guys to play better,” Austin said, “because I care about winning and how we win. I don’t care if it’s style points. I don’t care what it is; I don’t care if it’s 50-49 or it’s 3-2, my job is to coach our guys and hold them to less points than the opponent. And that’s really all I care about. And all I’m concerned with is: how are our guys doing? How are we performing? How can I help them get better?”

Austin on Thursday reiterated that he is the primary play caller for the defense, an evergreen topic of contention among the fanbase and local talk-show crowd who label the unit under the control of head coach Mike Tomlin.

“It’s been the same since I’ve been in this chair: I’m calling it,” Austin said of the gameday, snap-by-snap protocol. “And Mike, if Mike wants to call something, he calls it. And that’s how we roll. That’s how it’s been.”

What about during the week? How heavily involved in the construction of the game plan is Tomlin?

“Ever since I’ve been in this position, Mike’s… always been part of it,” Austin said. “Nothing’s changed in that regard. We go through our weeks, we plan, he’s in all the meetings, all those things. And so there’s really no change in terms of how we work together as a staff.”