As an average Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I love tracking the “Burgher Influence”—coaches with Pittsburgh or Steelers ties in the NFL. In 2025, I found 39 coaches with these roots, [same as 2023 but down from 50+ in 2017](https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/perspective-of-an-average-steelers-fan-2023-burgh-nfl-coaching-influence/). Only three are head coaches now, compared to nine back then. Here’s the scoop on our Burgher coaches this season.
### Dwindling Burgher Guard
The Burgher presence holds steady at 39 coaches, with only 18 in the same roles since last season. Arizona led with eight in 2017, Detroit had six in 2023, and now the Washington Commanders top the list with five, like Bobby Engram and Darnell Stapleton. Three head coaches—Mike Vrabel, Nick Sirianni, and Brian Schottenheimer—carry the Burgher flag. Missed any Burgher coaches? Drop them in the comments!
#### Burgher Coaching Connections
Here’s the 2025 lineup of NFL coaches with Pittsburgh roots:
**Buffalo Bills:** Bobby Babich (Def. Coord., sub-Burgher, son of Bob Babich)
**New England Patriots:** Mike Vrabel (Head Coach, Steelers player ’97-00), Ben McAdoo (Sr. Def. Asst., Burgher, IUP)
**Washington Commanders:** Bobby Engram (WR Coach, Pitt ’12-13), Darnell Stapleton (Asst. OL Coach, Steelers ’07-09), Jeff Zgonina (DL, Steelers ’93-94), Jason Simmons (Def. Pass Game Coord., Steelers ’98-01), William Gay (Asst. DB, Steelers ’07-11)
**Detroit Lions:** Scottie Montgomery (Asst. HC/WR, Steelers ’10-12), Hank Fraley (OL/Run Game, Robert Morris), Bruce Gradkowski (Off. Asst., Burgher, Steelers ’13-16), Deshea Townsend (Pass Coord./CB, Steelers ’98-09)
See the full list below.
#### Burgher Coaching Impact
Our bar graph shows Pittsburgh-connected coaches across the NFL in 2025. The Washington Commanders lead with five coaches, followed by the Detroit Lions with four. Seven teams, like the Patriots and Browns, have two each, while 13 have one. In Black and Gold, it highlights the Steel City’s coaching footprint leaguewide.
#### Song Selection
To honor these Western Pa., roots, I’m spinning “[We Ain’t Much Different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVN_iuVcIJE)” by **Lynyrd Skynyrd**. Its gritty vibe mirrors the hard-nosed spirit of Pittsburgh coaches like Mike Vrabel, whose leadership is already tightening discipline in New England. These Burgher coaches carry Steel City toughness across the NFL, proving our roots run deep. Who’s your favorite Burgher coach? Let’s keep the Pittsburgh pride alive!
### Table: 2025 Burgher Coaching Connections
**Division**
**City**
**Team**
**Name**
**Position**
**Connection**
_AFC East_
Buffalo
Bills
Bobby Babich
Def. Coord.
Son of Pittsburgh native Bob Babich (RIP)
New England
Patriots
Mike Vrabel
Head Coach
Steelers player 1997-2000
New England
Patriots
Ben McAdoo
Sr. Def. Asst.
Pittsburgh-area native (Homer), Played at IUP
New York
Jets
Aaron Curry
LB Coach
Steelers ILB Coach 2023-24
_AFC North_
Baltimore
Ravens
Tee Martin
QB Coach
Steelers player 2000-01
Baltimore
Ravens
Tyler Santucci
LB Coach
Pittsburgh-area native (New Kensington)
Cleveland
Browns
Raymond Ventrone
Asst. HC/Special Teams
Pittsburgh-area native (Chartiers Valley)
Cleveland
Browns
Duce Staley
RB Coach
Steelers player 2004-06
_AFC South_
Houston
Texans
Jerrod Johnson
QB Coach
Steelers training camp 2012
Jacksonville
Jaguars
Spencer Whipple
QB Coach
Pitt player, Pittsburgh-area native (Gibsonia)
Jacksonville
Jaguars
Shaun Sarrett
OL Coach
Steelers coach 2012-20, last as OL coach
_AFC West_
Kansas City
Chiefs
David Girardi
QB Coach
Pittsburgh-area native (New Kensington), Geneva College QB coach 2013
Las Vegas
Raiders
Joe Philbin
Sr. Off. Asst.
Washington & Jefferson player
_NFC East_
Dallas
Cowboys
Brian Schottenheimer
Head Coach
Son of Pittsburgh-area native Marty Schottenheimer (RIP)
New York
Giants
Carmen Bricillo
OL Coach
Duquesne OL Coach 2005, Pittsburgh-area native (Shelocta)
Philadelphia
Eagles
Nick Sirianni
Head Coach
IUP WR Coach 2006-08
Washington
Commanders
Bobby Engram
WR Coach
Pitt WR coach 2012-13
Washington
Commanders
Darnell Stapleton
Asst. OL Coach
Steelers player 2007-09
Washington
Commanders
Jeff Zgonina
DL Coach
Steelers player 1993-94
Washington
Commanders
Jason Simmons
Def. Pass Game Coord.
Steelers player 1998-2001
Washington
Commanders
William Gay
Asst. DB Coach
Steelers player 2007-11, Coach Intern 2019
_NFC North_
Chicago
Bears
Antwaan Randle El
Asst. HC/WR Coach
Steelers WR 2002-05, 2010
Chicago
Bears
J.T. Barrett
Asst. QB Coach
Steelers player 2019-20
Detroit
Lions
Scottie Montgomery
Asst. HC/WR Coach
Steelers WR Coach 2010-12
Detroit
Lions
Hank Fraley
OL/Run Game Coord.
Robert Morris player, Steelers UDFA 2000
Detroit
Lions
Bruce Gradkowski
Off. Asst.
Pittsburgh native, Steelers 2013-16
Detroit
Lions
Deshea Townsend
Pass Coord./CB Coach
Steelers player 1998-2009
Green Bay
Packers
Jason Vrable
Pass Game Coord.
Pittsburgh-area native (South Park)
Green Bay
Packers
Luke Getsy
Sr. Asst. Coach
Pittsburgh-area native (Munhall), Pitt player, IUP OC & QB coach 2011-12
Minnesota
Vikings
Brian Flores
Def. Coord.
Steelers Sr. Def. Asst. & LB coach 2022
_NFC South_
Atlanta
Falcons
Ike Hilliard
WR Coach
Steelers WR Coach 2020-21
Carolina
Panthers
Dom Capers
Sr. Def. Asst.
Steelers DC 1992-94
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Tom Moore
Sr. Off. Asst.
Steelers WR Coach & OC 1977-1989
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Larry Foote
Run Game Coord./OLB Coach
Steelers LB 2002-08 & 2010-13
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Nick Rapone
Safeties Coach
Pittsburgh-area native (New Castle), Pitt DC 1989-92
_NFC West_
Arizona
Cardinals
Buddy Morris
Reconditioning Coord.
Pitt strength coach 1980-89, 1997-2001, Pittsburgh native
Los Angeles
Rams
Alex Van Pelt
Sr. Off. Asst.
Pittsburgh native, Pitt QB 1989-92
Seattle
Seahawks
Frisman Jackson
WR Coach
Steelers WR Coach 2022-23
Seattle
Seahawks
Andrew Janocko
QB Coach
Pitt player