The Pittsburgh Steelers had to rely on an undrafted free agent in Beanie Bishop Jr. for a good chunk of the 2024 NFL season. Bishop was targeted early and had some rough moments, but he steadily improved as the year went on. By the end of the season, he had totaled four interceptions and proved he could hold his own, especially for a rookie who wasn’t even drafted.
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Steelers' Beanie Bishop Jr. returns the football after intercepting Jets' Aaron Rodgers during the 2024 NFL season.
Even though Bishop isn’t one of the high-priced stars on this defense, he knows how important it is for the group to improve. The Steelers have invested heavily in their defense, and expectations are sky-high heading into 2025. Bishop is focused on continuing to grow, and he’s confident the entire unit is ready to take a step forward.
One reason for that optimism is the arrival of new defensive backs coach, Gerald Alexander. According to Bishop, via Steelers insider Mike DeFabo, Alexander is already making big changes that should address many of the issues Steelers fans saw late in the 2024 season. With a fresh approach and stronger communication in the secondary, the defense has a real chance to become one of the league’s best in 2025.
"We’re throwing in a couple new calls," Bishop told DeFabo. "Some new zones, a couple new mans and a couple new blitzes and things like that. … Obviously, teams aren’t going to be prepared for certain things, like, 'Oh, we’ve never seen the Steelers run this.'"
Many Steelers fans watched in frustration as the defense fell apart during the biggest moments of the 2024 season. Much like the offense, the defense often looked predictable, sitting in soft coverage and allowing opposing quarterbacks to play pitch and catch. It was disappointing to watch the highest-paid defense in the NFL get carved up by the league's better teams with little resistance.
Bishop's recent comments should bring some optimism to Steelers fans. His words suggest that the coaching staff has taken a hard look at the problems from last season and is working to fix them. There is a clear focus on making improvements, and Bishop’s insight makes it feel like real change is already underway.
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Steelers Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander looks on.
DeFabo noted that during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp, Alexander was heavily involved in the hands-on work. He often led installation periods and took charge of teaching the defensive backs. His approach and attention to detail could be exactly what the secondary needs to get back on track in 2025. It will be interesting to see just how much say Alexander has when scheming up the defensive game plans.
"At the end of the day, they still don’t have a lot of money invested in me," Bishop said. "They obviously drafted a guy (Donte Kent) this year. Brought in (Brandin Echols). So I’m never just comfortable and like, 'Oh yeah, this is my spot.' No, I’d never think like that. I always got to have the chip on my shoulder because I still don’t forget where I come from."
Bishop understands he’s facing plenty of competition heading into the 2025 season if he wants to keep seeing meaningful snaps. The Steelers drafted Donte Kent in the seventh round, a talented corner who could climb the depth chart quickly. They also added Brandin Echols, a veteran with starting experience who brings more depth to the secondary.
Steelers' Beanie Bishop Jr. Is Not Taking Anything For Granted
With new faces in the room and expectations rising, Bishop knows he has to take another step forward. He showed promise in 2024, but staying on the field in 2025 will require even more consistency and growth. Bishop isn’t taking anything for granted. He knows that if he wants to keep his role, he’ll have to prove once again that he belongs.
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Steelers' Beanie Bishop Jr. speaks to members of the media.
For Bishop, entering the league as an undrafted free agent meant starting at the bottom and fighting for every opportunity. Despite being thrown into a difficult situation, he overachieved and made a strong impression throughout the 2024 season. Now with a full year of experience, Bishop is more motivated than ever. He is not just looking to keep his spot on the roster. He wants to show that he can be a reliable and impactful piece of the Steelers' defense in 2025.
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