Steelers Must Scheme Around Mediocre Position Group In 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense underwhelmed in 2025, as the group was the highest-paid in the NFL and was the league's second-oldest unit. The 27th-ranked total defense relied heavily on its pass rush and turnovers. When those didn't occur, the opposition had no problem executing exactly what they wanted. Though players have spoken out about the poor communication and scheme of the previous coaching staff, 2026 will provide a blank slate. With some new voices and schematics in the room, the defense will have no excuses but to perform. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is already winning over many in the Steel City. 

Along with new coaching, the front office addressed several holes on the defense through the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. Importantly, the secondary was a part of that plan. The Steelers utilized a sort of makeshift safety tandem towards the latter part of the season in 2025, where Jalen Ramsey played primarily at the spot after an injury to starter DeShon Elliott. While Ramsey and the other starter at the time, Kyle Dugger, weren't egregiously bad, there was a need for an upgrade. With that, the Steelers picked up Jaquan Brisker, a former Chicago Bears standout defender, in free agency. Brisker signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal in March. 

With Brisker and Elliott being slated as the two starters this year, Ramsey will have the freedom to roam around the defense. The duo of Brisker and Elliott should bring some more consistency compared to 2025, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter believes the Steelers coaching staff will have to scheme around the safety group. With a lack of star power and the ever-evolving defenses in the NFL, the team will have to make up for it in other ways. Carter discussed this on the Locked On Steelers podcast. 

"But when you look at the safety position this year, they don't have the best safety combinations. And listen, that's not to rag on DeShon Elliott. DeShon Elliott, I think, is a good safety, but he's still coming back from his injury. You had to go and bring in Jaquan Brisker, who I think is a good safety, but no one's looking at those guys and saying, "Oh, that's like, you know, All-Pro First Team safety number one right there." Like, the way that they looked at Minkah Fitzpatrick. So the Steelers kind of have to follow a trend here to kind of get with the NFL, and I think if they do that and they do it the right way, they can sort of mitigate the difference at the safety position because some teams have elite safeties," Carter said. 

With the Steelers still lacking a Pro Bowler-type player at the position, Pittsburgh's coaches will have to use what they have to the best of their ability. With the new trend being a split safety look, the scheme could utilize the two in that way. With both of them being hybrid-like players, who can cover and defend well in the box, this could have its benefits. 

This look can disguise which safety will do what. Whether that's dropping back or dropping towards the line of scrimmage, the way the players are lined up can be deceiving to pass-heavy offenses. With no safety roaming the middle of the field, something that the Steelers used a lot in the early parts of 2025, this would be a change of pace. However, it would compensate for the lack of star power and would align with the trends of some of the league's top defenses.

The Steelers' Defense Is Primed For Improvement

Though lackluster in 2025, with the new coaching and additions to the group, the unit is, on paper, looking miles better than 2025's group. It'll all come down to execution, however. 

This season will be a prove-it year for many on the defense. The veteran group will hope to make a splash, like they've done in the past.

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