Arizona Cardinals Team

Teryl Austin was hired as Arizona's senior defensive assistant on 3/9/26 after spending the past seven seasons (2019-25) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the last four as defensive coordinator (2022-25).

Austin returns to Arizona with 22 years of coaching experience at the NFL level, including nine years as a defensive coordinator with three different teams (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Detroit). He previously spent time with the Cardinals as the team's defensive backs coach from 2007-09, helping the team reach Super Bowl XLIII and working with three Pro Bowl DBs (CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Antrel Rolle & S Adrian Wilson).

Teryl Austin was hired as Arizona's senior defensive assistant on 3/9/26 after spending the past seven seasons (2019-25) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the last four as defensive coordinator (2022-25).

Austin returns to Arizona with 22 years of coaching experience at the NFL level, including nine years as a defensive coordinator with three different teams (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Detroit). He previously spent time with the Cardinals as the team's defensive backs coach from 2007-09, helping the team reach Super Bowl XLIII and working with three Pro Bowl DBs (CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Antrel Rolle & S Adrian Wilson).

Over the past four years as defensive coordinator (2022-25) with Pittsburgh, the Steelers led the NFL in takeaways (110) and were tied for 6^th in scoring defense (20.6 ppg) and 8^th in run defense (108.7 ypg). During his time with the Steelers, Austin mentored three All-Pros and six Pro Bowlers including OLB T.J. Watt, DL Cameron Heyward, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB Jalen Ramsey, LB Patrick Queen and CB Joe Haden.

Last season, the Steelers finished the season tied for 1^st in forced fumbles (16), ranked 4^th in takeaways (27), 6^th in sacks (48.0), 7^th in red zone efficiency (50.9%), 8^th in pressures (227), tied for 8^th in INTs (15), and 10^th in opponent completion percentage (66.4%). DL Cameron Heyward was named to the AP All-Pro second team after he finished the regular season with 78 tackles (38 solo), nine tackles for a loss, six passes defensed, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

In 2024, the Steelers defense finished 6^th in run defense (98.7 yards/game), 4^th in yards/carry (4.1), and 8^th in opponent points per game (20.4) and passer rating allowed (87.5). The defense also tied for the league lead in takeaways (33) including a league-high 18 forced fumbles. Heyward earned first-team All-Pro honors for the fourth time in his career after posting 71 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits and 11 passes defensed, which led all NFL defensive linemen. OLB T.J. Watt was voted team MVP for a franchise record fifth time after he had 61 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, a league-high six forced fumbles, 27 quarterback hits and four passes defensed. He also was named second-team All-Pro and was a finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. LB Patrick Queen made an immediate impact in his first year in Pittsburgh as he posted a team-high 129 tackles. S DeShon Elliott led the secondary with 108 tackles (73 solo), six passes defensed, one INT, five tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two QB hits. He was the only NFL defender to recover at least three fumbles, force two fumbles and have an interception in 2024 and was just the second defensive back to do so in a season since 2021.

The Steelers finished the 2023 season ranked 5^th in red zone efficiency (46.0%) 6^th in opponent points per game (19.1), tied for 8^th in takeaways (27), and 10^th in opponent passer rating (84.7). Watt returned from injury and registered 68 tackles (40 solo), 36 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, a league-leading 19.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, one INT, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He became the first player since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic, to lead the NFL in sacks three different seasons (2020, 2021 & 2023).

In his first season as defensive coordinator, Pittsburgh improved from 29^th in total defense to the NFL's top-ranked defense over the second half of the season, allowing an NFL-best 272.9 yards/game following their bye in Week 9. The defense also allowed the third-fewest third-down conversions (36) and tied for the second-most INTs (12) to close the season. The team's 20 INTs tied for the most in the NFL.

Serving as the secondary coach in 2021, six different Steelers defensive backs had INTs, while five forced at least one fumble. Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick led the team with 124 tackles. The defense also ranked 7^th in third-down conversation rate (37.1%), 9^th in passing yards per game (215.1), and 11^th in opponent passer rating (88.7) and opponent completion percentage (64.0%).

Austin coached a group of defensive backs that helped Pittsburgh's defense rank as one of the NFL's best in 2020. The Steelers limited 11 of their 17 opponents to a 60.0%-or-below completion percentage, which led the NFL. Opponents averaged just a 56.7% completion percentage and a 76.7 average quarterback rating, both leading the NFL and the lowest by a Pittsburgh defense since 2011. The Steelers also finished near the top of the NFL in INTs (t-1st, 18), takeaways (2^nd, 27), games with multiple takeaways (1^st, 11) and passes defensed (1^st, 84). Fitzpatrick was named a Pro-Bowler and AP All-Pro for the second consecutive season after he posted 79 tackles (55 solo), 11 passes defensed and had five takeaways (four INTs and one fumble recovery), which ranked 6^th in the NFL.

In 2019, Pittsburgh ranked in the top-five in the NFL in INTs (2^nd, 20), passing yards allowed per game (3^rd, 194.6), yards per play allowed (3^rd, 4.72), passes defensed (3^rd, 99), opposing passer rating (4^th, 79.7), pass yards per attempt allowed (4^th, 6.06), yards per game allowed (5^th, 304.1) and opponent points per game (5^th, 18.9). Fitzpatrick, who was named All-Pro first team, had five INTs, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His eight total takeaways (INTs and fumble recoveries) led the NFL. He recorded defensive TDs in back-to-back games, including a 96-yard INT return for a TD against the Colts (Nov. 3) and a 43-yard fumble return for TD against the Rams (Nov. 10).

Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Austin served as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (2014-17), before a one-year stint in the same role with the Cincinnati Bengals (2018). During his time in Detroit, Austin's defensive units ranked in the top-10 among all NFL teams in yards per game allowed (340.3), rushing yards per game allowed (100.3) and games holding opponents to 20 points or less (34). Detroit also made the playoffs twice while Austin led the defensive side of the ball, just the second and third seasons the Lions qualified for the playoffs since 1999.

In 2017, the Lions ranked 3^rd in the NFL with 32 forced turnovers, tied for 2^nd in fumble recoveries (13) and tied for 5^th in turnover differential (+10). The Lions also tied for 4^th in INTs (19), ranked 5^th in INTs per attempt (3.3%), and 7^th in TD/INT ratio (1.1). S Glover Quin forced four fumbles and recorded three INTs while posting 84 tackles. CB Darius Slay was named first-team All-Pro after he had a league-high eight INTs and 26 passes defensed. In 2016, the defense helped the Lions advance to the playoffs as the unit tied for 2^nd in the NFL by holding opposing offenses to 21 points or less in 10 games. Quin was named the Lions Defensive MVP by his teammates after posting 68 tackles (55 solo), five passes defensed, two INTs and a forced fumble. Slay appeared in 13 games and recorded 44 tackles, 13 passes defensed, two INTs and 1.0 sack.

As a first-time NFL defensive coordinator in 2014, Austin coordinated one of the NFL's most dominant defenses, finishing 1^st in rush defense (69.3 ypg.), 2^nd in total defense (300.9 ypg.) and 3^rd in scoring defense (17.6 ppg.). LB DeAndre Levy recorded 151 tackles, the second-most in the NFL, and added 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an INT. He was named second-team All-Pro for the only time in his career. Quin also led the NFL with seven INTs.

Prior to Detroit, Austin served as a defensive backs coach for a combined 10 years with three teams: Seattle Seahawks (2003-06), Arizona Cardinals (2007-09) and Baltimore Ravens (2011-13). In each of his three stops as a position coach, Austin helped his team to Super Bowl appearances (Seattle in 2005, Arizona in 2008) while helping Baltimore win Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season. In 2012, Austin's secondary helped the Ravens to the Super Bowl while limiting opponents to an 80.6 passer rating (11^th in the NFL) and a 1.2 TD/INT ratio (7^th in the NFL). In 2011, the Ravens yielded a league-low 11 passing TDs and surrendered the 3^rd fewest points per game (16.6), tying an NFL record by ranking in the top-three in points allowed for the fourth straight season.

In 2010, Austin worked as the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida, which recorded 22 INTs — the fourth-most in the nation while returning four for TDs. Austin's unit led the SEC by allowing just 310.8 yards per game, including 175.5 passing yards.

During his first stint in Arizona, three of Austin's defensive backs earned Pro Bowl honors in 2009 --- CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Antrel Rolle and S Adrian Wilson. Austin helped guide Rodgers-Cromartie, the team's first-round pick in 2008, to a team-best four INTs in the regular season and two during the playoffs. In 2007, the Cardinals led the NFL with six INTs returned for TDs and 551 interception return yards. Under Austin's mentorship, Wilson was twice named All-Pro and made consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

Austin played a key role in the development of the Seahawks young secondary during his tenure in Seattle. The Seahawks defense registered 67 INTs over Austin's four-year span, tied for the 10th-most in the NFL between 2003-07.

His college coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Penn State (1991-92). Austin also had stints as the defensive backs coach at Wake Forest (1993-95), Syracuse (1996-98) and Michigan (1999-2002).

He was a three-year starter and four-year letterman at safety for the University of Pittsburgh from 1983-87 and earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 1988. Austin played for the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football in 1991, after attending training camps with the Washington Football Team and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL).

The Sharon, PA native is married to his wife, April, and have five children, sons Tyler, Trey and Torin, and daughters Alexa and Alivia.