Steelers' Mike Tomlin Is Extremely Confident Pittsburgh's Secondary Will Shut Down The NFL's Best Wide Receivers

The Pittsburgh Steelers made some big moves on several occasions in the 2025 NFL offseason. The Steelers welcomed two new faces to their starting secondary in Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey. Both players are veterans now and not quite who they were in their prime but still have plenty of talent. The Steelers’ young rising star Joey Porter Jr. is entering a critical third season in the NFL. This is a make-or-break year for the promising prospect, and having Slay and Ramsey by his side is a massive advantage for him and Pittsburgh.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin recently sat down with Ryan Clark on The Pivot podcast during training camp in Latrobe, PA. Tomlin was asked by Clark about the Steelers’ aggressive moves to improve their defense, specifically their secondary. Tomlin didn’t hesitate to emphasize the impact these additions bring, saying the group now has the experience and skill to compete at the highest level. He expressed confidence that the secondary could match up man to man with anyone in the NFL.

Tomlin also highlighted how important it is for Porter to grow alongside veterans like Slay and Ramsey. He believes their leadership and knowledge will accelerate Porter’s development and help him reach his full potential. For the Steelers, the revamped secondary is a statement that they are committed to building a dominant defense that can control games and give the offense every chance to win.

"You hit it on the head, you know, man-to-man," Tomlin told Ryan Clark. "We gotta be able to do that. We gotta be able to match up on people. With that collection of guys that you mentioned. I feel like we can do it against anybody."

Tomlin made it clear that these offseason defensive additions were brought in to fix the leaks that happened in 2024. The 2024 defense was the highest paid in the NFL but struggled down the stretch. Tomlin is putting a big check on his defense’s backs heading into the 2025 season. 

Now it’s on him, Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, and this defense to cash it.

"No disrespect to Cincinnati or anybody else that has an elite group, but that’s just the level of confidence that we have in that collective," Tomlin said. "Couple that with the fact that we have big-time talent upfront. We have a lot invested in it in terms of our rush. Your ability to cover people man-to-man does nothing but help your rush. You know, we can’t be good on defense. We have to be great on defense, and being able to match up and play man-to-man is a major component of that in today's game."

Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind when discussing the Steelers’ cornerback additions is the Cincinnati Bengals’ explosive wide receiver room. The Bengals just locked up Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with big contracts this offseason, making them one of the toughest duos to stop in the league. 

Tomlin has acknowledged on multiple occasions how difficult containing these receivers can be. Last season, Porter struggled significantly against them, getting flagged six times while trying to keep up in one win over the Bengals.

Steelers' Defense Should Be Elite In 2025

The hype surrounding the Steelers defense is always high, but this time it feels more justified than ever. General Manager Omar Khan has shattered the old Steelers mold of frugality by aggressively investing in the roster early in his tenure. 

His bold moves, including high-profile additions to the secondary like Slay and Ramsey, signal a new era of ambition and urgency. Many experts and players believe this revamped defense has the talent and depth to be truly elite in 2025.

What do you expect from this Steelers' defense in the 2025 season? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias.

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