Darius Slay unloads on Steelers, Mike Tomlin defensive scheme

TL;DR

Darius Slay criticized the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive scheme and Mike Tomlin's coaching style after being released mid-season. He highlighted issues with the team's approach to outside leverage and predictability in their defense.

Key points

Darius Slay criticized Steelers' defensive scheme
Slay was released after a poor season with injuries
Former players find Steelers' defense predictable
New coaching staff expected to implement changes
Slay's comments highlight issues with outside leverage

Mentioned in this story

Mike TomlinJulian Edelman

Darius SlayPittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 2: Darius Slay #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, United States. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran cornerback Darius Slay last offseason, continuing a long trend of signing veteran cornerbacks in the CB2 role. Steven Nelson, Ahkello Witherspoon, Patrick Peterson, Donte Jackson, and Slay all had varying degrees of success in Pittsburgh, but the latter didn’t even make it through a full season. Slay was released on December 2, 2025 after a largely poor showing with multiple injuries sprinkled in. In a recent edition of his podcast, *Press Coverage,* Slay went in on the Steelers’ defensive schematics and subtly blamed Mike Tomlin for those perceived schematic issues. “I ain’t gonna lie to you, that Pittsburgh stuff… that s—t’s backwards over there,” Slay said via Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. “That ain’t [Teryl Austin] s—t. TA ain’t teach none of that s—t in f—king . [We played] outside leverage every f—king call. That’s why you see when [Jalen] Ramsey ever got scored on, he’s chasing someone that’s running away from outside leverage.” Slay added that the Steelers were coached to play outside leverage because the defensive line was expected to bat balls down if passes went inside. “This is what these [coaches] were telling me – you play outside leverage, and if they catch a ball inside, it’s on the d-line because they’re so good at batting the ball down,” Slay said. “I’m not banking on that. That’s the only thing I did not like about the defense.” Many fans and former players have expressed how predictable the Steelers’ defense has been for years. Former wide receiver said they always did well against Pittsburgh because the Steelers never changed their looks and always knew what they would do. “You knew exactly what they were doing,” . “And they still do what they did. They still do the same G—damn s—t [they did] when I was playing Tomlin’s defense. I’m like, ‘We still have linebackers covering the three slot?’ Every time we play Steelers, I have at least nine catches. You would think that they would change it but no, they do what they do.” With a new head coach in Mike McCarthy and new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, there should be a slew of refreshing changes made to the defense in 2026 and beyond. ***Let us know what you think in the comments***. ***Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!***

Q&A

What did Darius Slay say about the Steelers' defense?

Darius Slay described the Steelers' defense as 'backwards' and criticized the coaching for their approach to outside leverage.

Why was Darius Slay released by the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Darius Slay was released after a disappointing season marked by injuries and poor performance.

How has the Steelers' defense been perceived by former players?

Former players, including Julian Edelman, have noted that the Steelers' defense is predictable and has not changed significantly over the years.