Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry is being hired the New York Jets as their linebackers coach, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Curry is the first departure from the Steelers coaching staff after the 2024 season. He had spent two seasons with the Steelers coaching their inside linebackers, including Patrick Queen, who was selected to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games this week.
It’s unclear if Curry was still under contract to the Steelers. Position coaches are generally given two-year contracts.
A former first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, Curry spent four seasons coaching at UNC Charlotte, and then three with the Seahawks before joining the Steelers. Curry coached defensive ends at Charlotte and outside linebackers with the Seahawks, but inside backers with the Steelers, which more closely aligned with where he played as a pro.
The Steelers struggled to defend the run down the stretch run of the 2024 season, giving up big totals to Baltimore Ravens back Derrick Henry twice over the final five weeks of the season.
Team president Art Rooney II called the linebacker position a strength during his end-of-season press conference, and most of that group will be set to return in 2025. Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb and Mark Robinson are all under contract for next season, while Elandon Roberts and special teamer Tyler Matakevich are set to become free agents.
Pittsburgh did not have an assistant inside linebackers coach on the staff, though former Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams worked as a de facto assistant defensive line coach this season and could be in consideration for a promotion.
Before Curry, Jerry Olsavsky was the team’s inside linebackers coach from 2015-22. He spent the last two seasons coaching at Duquesne.