Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, coaching rumors, Arthur Smith
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Steelers Arthur Smith could be a top candidate to become Titans next head coach.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made multiple additions to the safety position this offseason. They signed veteran safeties Darnell Savage and Jaquan Brisker each to one-year deals. Of course, future Hall of Fame defender Jalen Ramsey made the switch from cornerback to safety in the middle of last season. Fellow safety DeShon Elliott is also under contract for another season.
Putting the team’s safety depth into perspective is important because they just lost a member of that position group from a season ago. According to ESPN senior insider Adam Schefter, former Steelers safety Chuck Clark is signing with the Detroit Lions.
Chuck Clark Leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers After Just One Season
Steelers S Chuck Clark
GettyChuck Clark played in 16 games for the Steelers in 2025, including playoffs.
Clark originally signed with the Steelers during training camp ahead of last season. The 30-year-old ended up playing a key role for former head coach Mike Tomlin and Co. He started five of the 15 regular-season games that he played in and went on to record 51 total tackles, 31 solo tackles, three pass deflections, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Adam Schefter
Lions signed former Steelers S Chuck Clark.
Commanders signed former Giants DT DJ Davidson.
While he wasn’t an All-Pro or anything like that, he was a steady rotational player on the backend of a defense that needed players to step up. Clark did that. His contributions helped the team win 10 games in the regular season, which led to the team earning its first AFC North title in five years. Now, Clark heads to the Motor City, where he will try to carve out a role with the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell.
This Steelers Defense Could Look a Little Different in 2026
patrick graham
GettyThe Steelers hired Patrick Graham earlier this offseason to be the team’s new defensive coordinator.
Clark is one of multiple defensive role players that the Steelers have lost to a new team. They also lost veteran cornerback James Pierre to the Minnesota Vikings.
But losing a couple of defensive backs isn’t the only reason why the Steelers could look a little different defensively in 2026. After hiring new head coach Mike McCarthy, the team also hired veteran defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to take over in the same capacity. Graham is taking over a defense that finished last season ranked 26th in total defense and 29th in pass defense. In other words, it can’t get much worse on that side of the football.
There are also rumors swirling around a potential Patrick Queen trade. If the Steelers ended up trading the two-time Pro-Bowler, they would lose a linebacker who has recorded nearly 270 tackles, including playoffs, across the last two seasons. But no official trade has come to fruition yet.
So, the Steelers, who are known for defense, could look different from multiple perspectives. After still finding a way to win that aforementioned AFC North title last season, an improved defense could help push this team beyond just a playoff birth. Keep in mind that Steelers GM Omar Khan also has 12 picks at his disposal coming up in the NFL Draft, which is being hosted by the city of Pittsburgh.