In the first announced new hire of the offseason among their coaching staff, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday named Gerald Alexander their defensive backs coach.
Alexander, who was assistant DBs coach for the Steelers in 2022-23, replaces Grady Brown, whose contract was not renewed, a source confirmed to TribLive. Brown’s title was secondary coach.
Alexander was safeties coach with the Las Vegas Raiders last season but was let go after the organization fired head coach Antonio Pierce. Alexander’s other NFL experience was as Miami Dolphins DBs coach in 2020-21. He spent the seven prior years coaching in the college ranks.
Alexander, 40, had a five-season playing career in the NFL after he was taken by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 draft. He appeared in 44 games with five teams.
Alexander returns to the organization familiar with most of the Steelers cornerbacks and safeties. He takes over a position group that acknowledged communication lapses during the season-ending five-game losing streak (including playoffs). Over the final seven games, the Steelers allowed 16 touchdown passes, and opposing quarterbacks completed 72.8% of their passes.
The Steelers did not announce their parting of ways with Brown, which is standard organizational practice after an assistant’s contract expires. Further changes to the coaching staff could be forthcoming, assuredly a new inside linebackers coach after Aaron Curry accepted a position with the New York Jets.
