Steelers' Beanie Bishop Jr. Excited To Work With New DBs Coach: "Everything Gonna Go Through Me"

Pittsburgh Steelers fans love players who personify the city's gritty, blue-collar, and hardworking spirit. Those players tend to put their noses to the grindstone and put in the extra effort. They are often unlikely heroes with great stories of overcoming the odds. It conjures up images of James Harrison, Alex Highsmith, Donnie Shell, and now second-year cornerback, Beanie Bishop Jr.  

It was a bumpy rookie season, but Bishop might have landed in the best possible spot. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is well known as a defensive guru and is applauded for his ability to get the best out of his players. The defensive coaches Tomlin hires are also generally beloved by players, so they are excited to see Gerald Alexander return. 

On a recent episode of The Christian Kuntz Podcast, long snapper Christian Kuntz told Bishop that he will love Alexander, hired to replace Grady Brown. He was with Pittsburgh from 2022 to 2023 as the assistant defensive backs coach, but then went to the Las Vegas Raiders. Bishop shared that he's worked with Alexander before. 

"It's crazy how the world works," said Bishop about his new coach. "So last year, I had the East-West Shrine Bowl, this is like a Senior Bowl game, and he was one of the coaches. I think he might have been the defensive coordinator for that week. Just being able to have a relationship with him. It's crazy to come full circle." 

Bishop said he realizes that no one is ever totally safe in the NFL, and his position is even more tenuous than others. However, he told Kuntz he is going in with a growth mindset from last season rather than worrying about making the roster. He said he has been focusing on his body and meeting with both Tomlin and Alexander. 

Bishop noted that Alexander is already making plans for the young cornerback for the 2025 season. Bishop appreciated the forward-thinking because he said he had eyes on the prize. 

"He told me that everything gonna go through me," said Bishop. "'I'm gonna help you learn the playbook, the technique, and different things to where you're not going to have to go to all these different coaches to get answers. I'm going to be able to give you the answers to the questions, allow you to ask questions.' I feel that's going to help me go to the next level. I always want to be trending up, especially over these next couple years when I get close to that contract."

Bishop is used to playing with a chip on his shoulder and is ready to prove himself. Despite being an All-American at West Virginia, Bishop was overlooked in the NFL Draft. The Steelers quickly snatched him up, and Bishop was thrilled to step into the nickel role, where there wasn't a current starter. 

The Steelers had brought Cam Sutton back, but he was facing a lengthy suspension. However, Tomlin never allowed Bishop to get too comfortable in that spot, and once Sutton returned, Bishop's snap count substantially dropped. Now, he gets to focus on playing since he feels more relaxed about his place on the roster and his contributions to the team.

Steelers' Defense Got The Wrong Kind Of Attention

General Manager Omar Khan recently told the media that he wasn't happy with the NFL's highest-paid defense in 2024. They relied heavily on that unit to win games through most of the season, but then they began to struggle, losing their last five games. They didn't just lose either, which made fans the angriest. They got dismantled in game after game. 

While it is true that the Steelers faced their toughest competition in a compressed period, they looked like a completely different team towards the end of the 2024 campaign. Khan will have to prioritize patching holes in the defense, especially on the line, while continuing to build the offense. The Steelers need to hit big in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Do you think Bishop will have a larger and more defined role under Alexander? Tell us what you think below! 

#SteelerNation