Just like the previous time Mike Tomlin hired a defensive backs coach, he is turning to a long-time college assistant.
The hiring of Grady Brown became official Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced.
Brown replaces Tom Bradley, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. Bradley joined the Steelers in 2018 after a lengthy college coaching career.
Although he has never coached in the pros, Brown participated in NFL internships with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers are Brown’s third employer this month. On Feb. 8, he left his position as defensive coordinator at McNeese State to become cornerbacks coach at Houston for former West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen.
Brown’s stay at Houston lasted little more than a week.
Brown last coached a game in 2019 when he was co-defensive coordinator at Old Dominion. After joining McNeese State, the FCS program’s season was pushed until the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brown also had stays at South Carolina, Louisville, LSU, Southern Mississippi, Birmingham Southern, Texas Southern, Alabama State and Alabama A&M.
Brown will be overseeing a group of defensive backs that produced 14 of the Steelers’ 18 interceptions in 2020, tied for tops in the NFL. Minkah Fitzpatrick led with four interceptions, followed by Mike Hilton with three and Joe Haden, Steve Nelson and Terrell Edmunds with two apiece. Cam Sutton had the other interception. Hilton and Sutton will be unrestricted free agents in March.
The Steelers finished third in the NFL in passing yards, allowing 194.4 yards per game.
