Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson will become the latest members of the Steelers’ franchise to participate in the NFL’s coaching accelerator program, May 21-23.
Austin and Jackson will join 38 other participants at the three-day program at the Spring League Meetings in Minneapolis. The Spring version of the program follows the inaugural coach and front office accelerator programs previously held at league meetings in 2022.
Director of Pro Scouting Sheldon White participated in the program last December at the league’s meetings in Dallas.
The coaching accelerator program aims to increase exposure among owners, executives, and diverse coaching talent, providing ample opportunity to develop and build upon their relationships. In a change to the nomination process this year, clubs were able to nominate those from outside of their organization.
Jackson participated in the May 2022 program and is one of 16 coaches returning for the 2023 version, while Austin will partake in his first portion of the program. The 40 participants this year are attending based on their high potential to be considered for a head coaching position in the future.
Austin was hired by the Steelers in January 2019 after having served as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator in 2018 before being fired. Previously, he spent four years as DC for the Detroit Lions. Austin has local ties to Pennsylvania as he was born in the Pittsburgh area and played his college ball at Pitt. He then spent two years with Penn State in the early 90s. He spent one year as defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators before taking a job with the Baltimore Ravens as their secondary coach from 2011 to 2013.
Austin spent his first season as the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh last season and saw the Steelers’ defense finish top 10 in a number of defensive categories while tying for the league lead in interceptions (20) in 2022.
Jackson joined the Steelers ahead of the 2022 season. He was a standout receiver at Western Illinois after transferring from Northern Illinois, where he played quarterback. Undrafted, he spent four years with the Cleveland Browns, catching 40 passes for 490 yards and one touchdown.
Prior to being hired by the Steelers, Jackson served as the wide receivers coach for the Carolina Panthers since 2020. He spent the previous two seasons at Baylor under head coach Matt Rhule, where he served as the team’s wide receivers coach in 2018, before adding the title of passing game coordinator in 2019. Before his time at Baylor, Jackson spent the 2017 season as the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans.
