Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers almost reunited with one of the most respected coaches in the industry before he joined the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns.
Dom Capers, who served as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator from 1992-94, will spend his 40th season coaching in the NFL with the Browns under new head coach Todd Monken. Before agreeing to work for his 13th NFL squad, Capers spoke with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.
“Just spoke with #Browns senior defensive assistant and former #Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers who said he was talking to Coach McCarthy about joining the Steelers staff but it didn’t work out due to Pittsburgh’s staff size,” Steelers Takeaways wrote Sunday on X.
Just spoke with #Browns senior defensive assistant and former #Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers who said he was talking to Coach McCarthy about joining the Steelers staff but it didn’t work out due to Pittsburgh’s staff size.
— Steelers Takeaways 🌗 (@PittsburghSport) March 29, 2026
Capers helped form the Steelers’ “Blitzburgh” resistance of the mid-1990s, working in a zone blitz scheme alongside Dick LeBeau and Bill Cowher.
Capers’ first professional coaching job was as the defensive backs for the USFL’s Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars from 1984-85. He’s been in the NFL ranks since 1986, when he joined the New Orleans Saints in the same role.
Capers worked under McCarthy as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2009-17. Since 2019, he’s served as a senior defensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019), Minnesota Vikings (2020), Detroit Lions (2021), Denver Broncos (2022) and Carolina Panthers (2023-25).
With Capers running their defensive show, the Steelers ranked second in points allowed twice (1992, 1994) and eighth once (1993). Pittsburgh was first in takeaways in 1992 and third in 1993. Capers gave way to LeBeau in 1995 after taking over for the expansion Carolina Panthers. Capers was also the Houston Texans’ head coach from 2002-05.
Mentioned In This Article: Cleveland Browns Dom Capers Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers