Steelers targeting former Seahawks, Cowboys staffer as defensive coordinator

In search of a new defensive coordinator, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly reached out to Kris Richard for an interview.

Following their elimination in the Wild Card Round by the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler announced his retirement. Now with a vacancy on Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff, the Steelers have reached out for interviews, including a former coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have requested to interview former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard for their vacancy. Richard spent this past season as the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints after two years in the same role with the Dallas Cowboys.

Steelers request interview with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard

Richard began his NFL coaching career with the Seahawks back in 2010 as an assistant defensive backs coach. He worked his way up Seattle’s coaching staff before taking over as coordinator 2015 after Dan Quinn left to accept the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job. Richard held that role until he was let go following the 2017 season.

After his stint in Seattle, Richard was hired by the Dallas Cowboys to be their defensive backs coach. He held that role from 2018 until the end of the 2019 season, after head coach Jason Garrett was let go and replaced by Mike McCarthy.

Richard is not the only big name that Pittsburgh is targeting to be their new defensive coordinator. The Steelers also requested to interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their vacancy. Graham is one of the candidates the Giants are interviewing for head coach after they fired Joe Judge.