In an offseason full of change, perhaps the most consequential addition wasn’t a player but a coach. Transforming the league’s most expensive defense from an underperforming unit into one of the NFL’s elite ones is no small task, but that’s exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Patrick Graham to do.
“Graham built a strong reputation in the league because of his ability to maximize Raiders defenses that had talent deficiencies. In Pittsburgh, it’s the opposite. The Steelers will employ the NFL’s highest-paid defense for the fifth consecutive season. This group features a number of Pro Bowlers, All-Pros and a few potential future Hall of Famers who haven’t always played up to their collective cap hit,” Mike DeFabo wrote via The Athletic.
The Las Vegas Raiders spent $95.6 million on their defense in 2025, according to Over The Cap. The Steelers are set to spend $195.3 million this season. If all goes to plan, the Steelers hope he feels that $100 million difference in the unit’s performance.
Relative to their spending, Graham helped lead the Raiders to a respectable defensive season in certain key metrics. They allowed just 317.8 yards per game in 2025 compared to the Steelers’ 356.9, though the Steelers edged out the Raiders in scoring defense at 22.8 points allowed per game compared to 25.4.
Working with underfunded defenses is not new to Graham. In his first two years in Las Vegas, the Raiders had the third- and second-lowest spending figures in the league. His finest work came in 2023 when the Raiders spent just $56.2 million on defense and finished 9th in points allowed and 15th in yards allowed.
The challenge in Pittsburgh isn’t proving Graham can elevate an undermanned defense. He’s already done that. The question now is whether he can unlock the full potential of a unit loaded with blue-chip talent.
If he can do that, the Steelers’ ceiling for the 2026 season changes dramatically.
