The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hire Washington Commanders assistant Jason Simmons in a “prominent defensive role,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Washington assistant Jason Simmons, who interviewed for the Steelers DC job, is expected to join the staff in a prominent defensive role, per sources. This would be a reunion for Simmons, Patrick Graham and Mike McCarthy from Green Bay.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 29, 2026

NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported that Simmons to Pittsburgh is a “done deal.”

Simmons interviewed yesterday for the Steelers’ defensive coordinator job, though that role is ultimately expected to go to Patrick Graham, whom Fowler reported is flying into Pittsburgh and interviewing today. Simmons served as the Commanders’ pass game coordinator last season, but he has ties to McCarthy. The latter hired him in 2011 as a defensive assistant, and he served as an assistant with the Packers through 2018 in various roles. Simmons was also the passing game coordinator and secondary coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and 2023, with Graham serving as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator in both of those seasons.

Simmons’ last two seasons have been spent with the Commanders, and he helped improve the team’s passing defense in 2024 when it made a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

Prior to his coaching career, Simmons played for the Steelers from 1998-2001 and the Houston Texans from 2002-2007.

Graham was also an assistant at the same time as Simmons on the Green Bay staff, as he was the linebackers coach and run game coordinator in 2018.

While Simmons didn’t land the Steelers’ defensive coordinator job, he’ll have a major role on their defensive staff. Most of his experience has been working with the secondary, and the Steelers are reportedly expected to keep defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander. Alexander also spent a year working under Graham in Las Vegas, though he came in 2024 and didn’t overlap with Simmons.

Under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers had one of the smallest staffs in football. That could change under McCarthy. And adding Simmons in a to-be-determined role that doesn’t appear to be a coordinator or position coach job further suggests McCarthy will have a larger staff. So far, the only hires or reported hires McCarthy has made are coaches who have ties to him and have worked under him in the past. Simmons would be another hire who fits that bill.

With Graham expected to interview today and his hiring likely made official soon, Simmons could follow soon after that, and we’ll learn what his title will be. It makes sense that he’ll have a “prominent” role given his ties and familiarity with the head coach and the expected defensive coordinator.