When the Pittsburgh Steelers started 3-0, the defensive accolades knew no bounds. There were comparisons to the 2008 and 2010 teams and even the dynasty defenses of 1975 and 1978. Then, in eight days, after two heart-breaking, one-score losses, the fanbase’s fickle tide changed. A lot of people want to cast blame at the feet of defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, but that’s very shortsighted. Austin has the resume, pedigree, and results that demand the respect of Steelers Nation.

Austin has produced results during his time in Pittsburgh. That’s why he earned an extension earlier this year. In 2023, Pittsburgh had the sixth-best scoring defense. They were eighth in turnovers, eighth in first downs allowed, and fifth in red zone touchdowns allowed. In the final three games, with the season on the line, the defense allowed just one second-half touchdown. That was accomplished without Cam Heyward at his best and Minkah Fitzpatrick for eight games.

In 2022, Austin’s first year as coordinator, Pittsburgh’s defense started poorly, but they turned it around after the bye. In the final nine games, the Steelers allowed only 273 yards per game, the best in the league. They also gave up the least third-down conversions.

Even before his promotion to coordinator, Austin was putting up impressive accomplishments. In 2020 as defensive backs coach, the Steelers held 11 of the 16 quarterbacks they faced to below a 60 percent completion rate. For the season, the defense allowed an average of 56.7 completion percentage and a 76.7 quarterback rating. Those not only led the NFL that year but were the lowest allowed by a Pittsburgh defense since 2011. In 2019, the defense was third in passing yards allowed (194.6), fourth in opposing passer rating (79.7), fifth in total yards allowed (304.1) and fifth in points allowed (18.9).

I’ve seen many fans criticize Mike Tomlin for keeping Austin instead of promoting Brian Flores after the 2022 season. Sure, Flores is currently leading an exceptional, undefeated defense in Minnesota. But he’ll return to the head coaching ranks, maybe as early as next season. Plus, the Steelers honor their contracts. There’s no reality where Tomlin and Art Rooney promote Austin in January of 2022, only to let him go with years left on the contract (Matt Canada was the extreme exception to the rule). Also, Flores’ more military-esque style may not be the version of leadership Tomlin wants, considering how hands-on the head coach is with the defense. Isn’t that why Hines Ward wasn’t brought on as receivers coach?

If you read the recent biography on Tomlin, you’d also realize the connections between him and Austin go back a quarter century. When Austin was defensive backs coach at Michigan, and Tomlin was the same at Cincinnati, Austin was already politicking to bring Tomlin to Ann Arbor. Although Tomlin’s journey took him to Tampa Bay instead of the Big Ten, the point is Tomlin and Austin have a history that Flores didn’t share.

Finally, there’s a point that ultimately means less than his resume, but isn’t completely meaningless. Austin is a native Yinzer. He graduated from Sharon High School and was a three-year starter at safety for Pitt. That probably didn’t earn any extra grace for former coaches like Todd Haley, but it ain’t nothing. Let’s celebrate Coach Austin instead of pointing fingers at the first sign of struggle.