Steelers' Asante Samuel Jr. Wears A Big Chip On His Shoulder: "I Remember That"

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a very rare opportunity in the 2025 season, and they took advantage of it. High-level players are not usually available in the middle of the season, but Asante Samuel Jr. was. He was recovering from spinal surgery and had just been cleared to play. Pittsburgh signed him to the practice squad to get him up to speed for the final month of the year, and he played very well as a starter when his number was finally called. The cornerback room was very desperate for another young talent, and he was right there for the taking. 

In Week 15, the Steelers were hosting the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Samuel was playing in his third game of the season, but that was his first start in Pittsburgh, and he played all 50 defensive snaps that game. In that contest, he also caught his first interception while wearing the Black and Gold as he reminded the world that he is back. He helped lead the team to a dominating 28-15 victory.

Samuel was asked about that interception while making an appearance on Closed on Sundays. He explained what that interception truly meant to him, as it was much more than just a statistic from a game.

"It's my first [start] back. It's Monday night; it's the only game on TV, so I know everyone's watching," Samuel said. "And then, I do it (catch the interception), it was like a weight off my shoulders. All the doubts, all the naysayers, everything that people got to say negative, I remember that. I just love proving people wrong."

Samuel missed most of the season and was still a free agent through November because he had a major spinal surgery as mentioned. It's very easy to stay negative during that time frame, and all the doubters online were not helping out. He recovered, he made it back to the NFL, and he got an early interception in a big win as part of an all-around dominating defensive performance. Most importantly, he felt like himself again. 

Samuel admitted on the show that he was definitely nervous going into the game. After he caught that interception, those nerves went away and he started playing like himself again. In the six total games he played in (and three starts), he only allowed 10 total receptions. All the questions and doubts from his spinal surgery were no more. That became a thing of the past, and now, he's looking forward to the future.

Whether Samuel is in Pittsburgh for 2026 or he's elsewhere, he should only improve from his short 2025 season. Getting a full offseason of training and learning a system will allow him to unlock his full potential and go back to his high-quality Los Angeles Chargers form. The offseason program may be hard, but after what he dealt with, he is likely excited to get back to work and get a full season in finally.

Steelers Need To Prioritize Samuel Before Free Agency

The new league year is just around the corner, and that means players should be re-signing soon. The Steelers don't have much at outside cornerback beyond Joey Porter Jr., but there's no need to get much older like they did in 2025. Even if they don't see Samuel as the full-time starter, he can still be a cheap, effective rotational piece to help out this defense. 

Samuel does have the upside of a quality CB2, so he and Porter should make an effective pairing. Because of his limited reps in 2025, he shouldn't cost as much as a typical player of that caliber as well. A short-term deal to allow him to prove himself should be a good compromise for both sides, as he could earn a bigger payday if he plays well in 2026.

What do you think about Samuel's mindset after his first interception as a Steeler? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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