For Jalen Ramsey, flipping from cornerback to safety isn’t like riding a bike. But he kept the wheels on himself and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense while holding down the role full-time in last Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, a feat he’ll try to replicate this weekend versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Speaking to reporters Friday, Ramsey said the role has him locking back in on the finer points of the game.
“I guess you could say maybe it brings a renewed energy for me,” Ramsey said via the Trib’s Chris Adamski. “Being a corner for 10 years, you kinda learn the game. Same old, same old, same old every day. Not saying I wasn’t learning and trying to continue to grow in that role. But at safety, I’m just in the meetings and I’m learning new things and new ways to learn the game.”
“It’s definitely *not* just like riding a bike”
—Jalen Ramsey on making a transition over a few days to fulltime safety last week pic.twitter.com/ToG7txfkrM
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 7, 2025
Ramsey had played safety in a limited role throughout the season but only saw action there in the team’s base package. After losing multiple safeties to injury for Week 9, the team moved Ramsey there full-time. He responded with an excellent game as Pittsburgh’s defense held the No. 1-ranked Indianapolis Colts offense to just 20 points, half of which came in the final minutes of a game already decided.
His physicality over the middle created a presence and he shadowed stud rookie TE Tyler Warren on passing downs. Pittsburgh held Warren to a season-low 26 receiving yards.
It was Ramsey’s first time playing full-time safety since his early days at Florida State. One that had him re-engaged with the position. Not quite like a rookie but a veteran player who couldn’t rely on tricks of the trade that had become second nature.
“It’s definitely not riding a bike,” Ramsey said. “Tough but fun. I love football. All the pieces of it I try to embrace.”
Pittsburgh will roll out a similar plan against the Chargers. Ramsey will remain at safety for this game. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin won’t commit beyond that but if the defense continues to hold its own, Ramsey’s switch may become permanent. Especially if the Steelers land top free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
Ramsey gave that energy back with a rousing pre-game speech before the Colts game. One in which he called on the rest of the defense to elevate its game and bring an edge. The unit responded with its best game of the season, forcing five of six Colts turnovers. The six takeaways were the most by the Steelers in a game since 2010.
The first law of thermodynamics says energy can’t be created or destroyed. It’s simply transferred and moved around. After ugly losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, the Steelers brought that energy back in a clear way. This Sunday, they’ll rely on Newton’s Law that objects in motion stay in motion and try to ride their success to another win over a quality AFC opponent.
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