Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Gives Definitive Answer On Jalen Ramsey's Future At Safety

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 27-20 Week 9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The story of the game was Pittsburgh’s dominant defense, which forced six turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by Daniel Jones, two forced fumbles, and a muffed punt. Despite missing several key players due to injuries and illness, the Steelers delivered one of their best defensive performances of the season. Veteran defender Jalen Ramsey even stepped into a new role, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin suggested that the position change could become permanent after Ramsey’s impressive showing.

During his weekly press conference, Tomlin praised Ramsey for his performance at a new position and showed excitement for what could be ahead as Ramsey gains more time at safety.

"His talents are obvious, his tackling, his range, his physicality, but the more subtle things and the intangible things are exciting for us because as he gains more experience back there it's reasonable to expect some of those talents to show up more frequently," Tomlin said.

Ramsey has been one of the best defensive backs in the National Football League since he was drafted in 2016 out of Florida State. His reputation as a physical, confident, and instinctive player has followed him throughout his career, and his ability to adapt has made him one of the most valuable defenders in the league. Ramsey's versatility to play different positions all over the field was one of the main reasons that Omar Khan made the deal to trade for him during the offseason, and that flexibility was on full display Sunday against the Colts.

What made Ramsey’s performance so impressive was how natural he looked in the new role. He didn’t hesitate to step up and make tackles in the run game, and he showed great awareness when dropping back into coverage. The Steelers’ defense looked faster, more aggressive, and more connected than it had in weeks. Considering the number of players they were missing, it was a statement performance from a unit that has been inconsistent at times this year.

"He's got really good instincts, he's got a really good passion for the game, he studies the game, and I think those are some things that really enable him to play back there and that is such a major component of that position," Tomlin said. 

DeShon Elliott, Chuck Clark, and Jabrill Peppers all missed action against the Colts due to injury and sickness, forcing Ramsey to move from his usual cornerback spot to safety. Going into the game, it wasn’t clear how much he’d actually line up there, but that question was answered pretty quickly. Ramsey played nearly the entire game at safety, and he looked like he’d been doing it for years. Alongside newly acquired safety Kyle Dugger, Ramsey helped limit the Colts’ high-powered passing game, and his presence brought a sense of confidence and control to the secondary. He finished the day with five tackles, but his impact went far beyond the stat sheet, it seemed like he was involved in nearly every defensive play.

Steelers' Secondary Will Have Another Tall Task In Week 10

Ramsey, Dugger, and the rest of the Steelers' secondary will have another difficult challenge in front of them in Week 10 as they travel across the country to face the Los Angeles Chargers. After facing the league's leading passer last week, they'll face the league's number two passer this week in Justin Herbert. Herbert has thrown for 2,390 yards with 18 touchdowns so far this year, leading the Chargers to a 6-3 record as they have won two games in a row. 

If the Steelers' defense can duplicate a performance like they had in Week 9 against the Colts, they'll give themselves a chance to pick up a huge road win against a conference opponent who is on the rise. 

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