One-time Whisenhunt assistant has 3 NFL defensive coordinator stints

Darren Urban

Mike LaFleur is bringing a familiar face back to Arizona as experience on his new coaching staff.

Teryl Austin, who was the defensive backs coach for the Cardinals' Super Bowl team in 2008 and was on Ken Whisenhunt's staff from 2007-2010, signed on to be a senior defensive assistant for the 2026 Cardinals and lend his perspective to a defense trying to bounce back after a rough year in 2025.

Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis was brought back by LaFleur and provides stability. Austin, 61, brings with him knowledge formed in part during defensive coordinator stints with the Detroit Lions (2014-2017), Cincinnati Bengals (2018) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2022-2025).

Austin had been on Mike Tomlin's staff in Pittsburgh since 2019, until Tomlin stepped down as head coach earlier this year.

In four years as the Steelers DC, Pittsburgh had a league-leading 110 takeaways and tied for sixth in scoring defense at 20.6 points per game.

The Cardinals still are working on completing (and announcing) their strength and conditioning coaching staff.