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Jamel Dean Makes Bold Steelers Claim After Comparing Pittsburgh to His Super Bowl-Winning Bucs 1
Jamel Dean has seen what a championship roster looks like up close. He was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning team, so when the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback compares his new locker room to that of the Buccaneers, the claim carries real weight.
Dean is not just praising the Steelers’ talent but sees the same veteran leadership, younger players buying into the system, and overall roster balance that helped the Bucs make its title run. That makes his early Steelers assessment much louder than routine training-camp optimism.
Jamel Dean Sees Super Bowl Ingredients In Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jamel DeanTampa Bay Buccaneers, Jamel Dean
Dec 15, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) celebrates after a fumble recovery in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
On August 29, Steelers Depot reported Dean’s Super Bowl comparison, with the veteran CB saying that the Steelers reminds him of the Bucs championship team because it has the necessary pieces and players who understand what it takes to reach the top.
“This team right here reminds me of that team we had in Tampa, when we won the Super Bowl. Like, we got all the pieces that we need. And we got veteran guys that understand the game, that knows what it takes to get there. And we also got younger guys that’s bonding to the system, and they’re also coming along to make plays too.”
CB Jamel Dean believes the Steelers have all the pieces to win a Super Bowl: “This team right here reminds me of that team we had in Tampa, when we won the Super Bowl. Like, we got all the pieces that we need. And we got veteran guys that understand the game, that knows what it…
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 29, 2026
That perspective matters because Dean knows the formula firsthand. He spent seven seasons with the Buccaneers and started 54 games over his final four years there. His 2025 season also showed why Pittsburgh targeted him, as he finished with 46 tackles, 9 passes defensed and three interceptions, including a pick-six.
Tampa Bay QBs completed just 43.1% of their passes when targeting him, while his 41.3 passer rating allowed ranked first among qualifying cornerbacks. Now, Dean gives the Steelers another proven outside presence alongside Joey Porter Jr. The secondary has quickly become one of the roster’s most intriguing groups, with Jalen Ramsey, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, and rookie Daylen Everette adding more experience and upside. Athlon Sports’ recent roster coverage also identified that CB group as one of the Steelers’ deepest position rooms.
And Everette gives Dean another reason to believe the younger pieces are coming along. On August 6, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Dean called the rookie a player with the tools to become one of the greatest corners when his opportunity arrives. That is significant praise from a veteran who has already played on a championship defense.
The Steelers still have plenty to prove before Dean’s Super Bowl comparison becomes more than an offseason belief, however, the message is clear: he sees a roster with veterans who have been there and young defenders ready to contribute. For Pittsburgh, that is exactly the kind of internal confidence a new era under Mike McCarthy needs right now.