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Raiders Steal Steelers Defensive Backs Coach; First Interview Happens In Pittsburgh For OC Spot

Originally posted on Steeler Nation
By Justin McGonigle, Owner | Last updated 1/24/24

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost another assistant coach after losing offensive assistant Glenn Thomas last week to Nebraska University. This time they'll lose an assistant from the defensive side of the ball. It's being reported by Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that defensive backs assistant Gerald Alexander is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Alexander just finished his second season with the Steelers organization after spending a few years with the Miami Dolphins. Alexander was a second round draft pick by the Detroit Lions back in the 2007 NFL Draft. He bounced around the NFL also playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and the Dolphins. Alexander is from the California area and he will now get to head back near home after joining the Raiders.

Raiders are hiring Gerald Alexander as their safeties coach, per source.

Alexander spent the last 2 seasons as Steelers assistant defensive backs coach. He also ran Dolphins DB room from 2020-21 where he became a favorite for many players. Now, he aims to do it again in Vegas.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 24, 2024

Alexander was working under up-and-coming coach Grady Brown in the Steelers secondary room.

Steelers Complete Offensive Coordinator Interview

On Wednesday evening, the Steelers announced that they had concluded their first offensive coordinator interview. Former Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown was the first person to interview for Matt Canada's old job.

Brown recently completed two interviews with the Tennessee Titans for their vacant head coaching job. He only lasted one season in Carolina after Head Coach Frank Reich was relieved of his job midway through the season. Initially Brown wasn't the play-caller for the Panthers, but after a few unsuccessful weeks, Reich passed the duty off to Brown. Reich would re-take the play-calling duties from Brown before he was ultimately fired. Brown would again call the plays for the remainder of the season.

Brown, 37, also had an interview earlier this offseason with the Chicago Bears for their offensive coordinator job. Despite a horrendous season in Carolina (which likely wasn't his fault), Brown's star continues to be bright in the NFL. He quickly climbed up the coaching ranks under Sean McVay in Los Angeles.

Thomas Brown is an incredibly impressive - and effective - young coach. He has strong principles, he is a tremendous communicator and he has logic behind everything he does. He also totally reminded me of Mike Tomlin for one very specific reason: he does not have an indoor voice. https://t.co/xPxpZFEn5j
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) January 24, 2024

Before joining McVay's staff, Brown was mostly a running backs coach at the collegiate level. He did spend time as the Miami Hurricane's offensive coordinator for three seasons.

This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

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