The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to schedule interviews for their vacant defensive coordinator position after Keith Butler stepped down a few days ago.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Monday night, the Steelers have requested permission to interview New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard for their vacant defensive coordinator position.

The #steelers has requested an interview #Santos DBs coach Kris Richard for his vacant defensive coordinator job, the source said. previous #Seahawks DC has another chance after impressing in New Orleans.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2022

Richards was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of USC. He played for the Seahawks for three seasons, then was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2005. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 and the Oakland Raiders in 2007.

After his football career ended, Richards returned to USC to be a graduate assistant coach under head coach Pete Carroll. He will follow Carroll to Seattle in 20190 to be an assistant defensive backs coach. from 2015 to 2017, Richard was the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks.

Richard was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as their defensive backs coach in 2018 and held that position for two seasons. In February 2021, the Saints hired him as their defensive backs coach under head coach Sean Payton after Aaron Glenn left to become the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

It was reported Sunday that the Steelers had made their first outside request for their next defensive coordinator. That request was the team asking to interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

A 2020 expansion of the Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least two outside minority candidates for coordinator positions. An interview with Richard should satisfy the requirement of the rule, assuming that this interview and the one requested with Graham occur.