PITTSBURGH — The “Steel City” welcomed back one of its own on March 12, as the Pittsburgh Steelers officially signed safety Jaquan Brisker to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. The move brings the former Gateway High School standout back to the neighborhood where he once rooted for Troy Polamalu from the stands.
Brisker didn’t just sign a contract; he fulfilled a lifelong dream. Born and raised in the Pittsburgh suburbs, the 26-year-old safety spent the last four seasons as a staple in the Chicago Bears’ secondary. Despite interest from several teams in the early hours of free agency, the pull of the black and gold proved too strong. It didn’t hurt that former Penn State teammate Joey Porter Jr. was reportedly “blowing up” Brisker’s phone to make the recruitment official.
The veteran safety arrives in Pittsburgh coming off his most durable season yet. In 2025, Brisker started all 17 games for the first time in his career, racking up 93 total tackles, eight passes defensed, and an interception. He brings a physical, “down-hill” style of play that fits the classic Pittsburgh mold. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, he offers the size and range needed to handle the AFC North’s bruising rushing attacks.
This signing marks another aggressive move by General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy. Following Mike Tomlin’s decision to step down in January after 19 seasons, McCarthy has wasted no time restructuring the roster. Brisker joins a secondary that already features newly acquired cornerback Jamel Dean and veteran DeShon Elliott.
Defensively, the Steelers struggled with depth last year, finishing near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed after injuries decimated the back end. Brisker offers a “Swiss Army knife” capability, having split his time in Chicago between box safety and free safety roles. He is expected to start at strong safety, allowing Elliott to roam or play closer to the line of scrimmage in specific packages.
“It feels amazing … I’m just getting chills saying I’m a Pittsburgh Steeler. My family, they’re strong Pittsburgh fans and they’re so happy. They said, ‘We’re putting our black and gold back on.’ I’m just blessed to be here.”
— Jaquan Brisker, Steelers Safety
The addition of Brisker, combined with the Jamel Dean signing, suggests the Steelers are done playing “bend-but-don’t-break” defense. They are building a unit designed to challenge the elite quarterbacks of the AFC. With Aaron Rodgers likely returning for his age-42 season in 2026, the window is cracked wide open. Pittsburgh has effectively plugged its biggest hole in the secondary before even reaching the draft.
Expect the front office to shift its focus toward the offensive line and potentially a young quarterback to develop behind Rodgers as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. For now, the defense looks like a top-five unit on paper, bolstered by a local kid who knows exactly what it means to play in this city.
