While Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach, that didn’t stop Omar Khan from adding to the team in hopes of competing for a Super Bowl. Signing safety Jaquan Brisker might’ve been Khan’s best move, though. Brisker was originally a 2022 second-round pick by the Chicago Bears, and he was a good player with them. However, the Steelers still managed to get him on a cheap contract. Analyst Steven Palazzolo thinks that deal is going to age beautifully.
“He barely got paid,” Palazzolo said Monday on his Check the Mic podcast. “Brisker against the world here. He’s going to prove them wrong. Why didn’t the Bears bring him back on the cheap? There’s some doubt around Jaquan Brisker’s game…
“He signed for $5.5 million for one year. That’s the league not believing in Brisker, who’s my breakout player. You’re gonna be a believer in Jaquan Brisker… There’s another level to his game as well… He’s gonna be an enforcer for the Steelers… He’s getting a multi-year deal from someone else at the end of this season… A good multi-year deal. He’s getting paid, as a safety, at the end of the year.”
The Bears were one of the best teams in the league last year, winning their division. Brisker was a big part of that, too. After being limited to only five games in 2024 due to injury, Brisker had a solid 2025 campaign, posting one interception, eight pass defenses, one sack, one tackle for loss, and 93 total tackles. He was a consistent presence on the back end of the Bears’ defense.
However, they opted to let him go, and Brisker landed with the Steelers. While it’s still unclear what his role will be, he figures to give the Steelers more versatility in their secondary.
DeShon Elliott should man one of their starting safety spots. Jalen Ramsey also looks poised to spend a lot of time at safety, although he may be used more as a chess piece. Brisker has also stated that he’s willing to play multiple spots, too, including linebacker. Therefore, he and Ramsey should help the Steelers confuse opposing offenses.
Brisker has many desirable qualities. He’s a good tackler, shows a willingness to defend the run, can move around in the secondary, and he’s still only 27 years old. If Brisker improves in coverage and if his ball skills improve, then he could be in for a nice payday after this season.
Unfortunately, that could also mean that his time with the Steelers will be short. They’ve already got a lot of money invested in their defense, and they could still pay a few other players, too. They might not be able to afford Brisker if he breaks out like Palazzolo thinks he will.
Still, a good 2026 season from Brisker would be good for the Steelers. They loaded up this year after once again failing to win a playoff game. Perhaps Brisker will help them end 2026 on a better note.
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