There’s little argument that one of the worst Pittsburgh Steelers defensive efforts vs. the Minnesota Vikings was the 81-yard busted play to Jordan Addison — and we now know who was responsible: DC Teryl Austin.

On Wednesday, reporter Alan Saunders shared that Austin accepted the blame for the play vs. the Vikings — claiming the call was too complicated for the injury-ridden secondary late in the contest.

#Steelers DC Teryl Austin took the blame for the busted coverage against #Vikings WR Jordan Addison, saying he probably made too complicated of a call, considering the depleted personnel in the secondary.

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) October 1, 2025

Luckily for Pittsburgh, LB Payton Wilson was able to stop Addison, resulting in over a minute coming off the clock before the Vikings inevitably scored. Wilson’s effort was pivotal in preventing Minnesota’s comeback.

Austin’s blitz-heavy scheme against the Vikings paid dividends for the Steelers in their 24-21 win — but it remains to be seen if he can keep the momentum rolling, as fans were calling for his job just a few weeks prior.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers DC Teryl Austin accepts blame for busted play vs. Vikings