The Pittsburgh Steelers made several exciting additions during the 2026 offseason, with veteran safety Jaquan Brisker standing out as one of the most intriguing newcomers. The former Chicago Bears defensive chess piece chose to join the Steelers on a hometown discount, looking to remind the NFL world just how underrated he has become.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Jaquan Brisker works out during Phase One of voluntary offseason workouts in 2026.
Brisker’s $5.5 million contract is essentially a prove-it deal. When comparing his situation to other players of his caliber entering the prime of their careers at 27 years old, it becomes clear that Brisker accepted a team-friendly opportunity to play in the Steel City for the 2026 season. Now, he will look to bring his high-level impact into Patrick Graham’s new defensive scheme and prove that he can still be a difference-maker at the highest level.
The biggest question surrounding Brisker has been his concussion history. During the 2024 campaign with the Bears, Brisker was limited to just five games, raising concerns about his availability moving forward. However, he silenced those doubts in 2025, starting all 17 regular-season games and both playoff contests for Chicago.
During the 2025 regular season, Brisker recorded 93 tackles, finishing second on the Bears, including 52 solo tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and one sack.
His ability to consistently impact games helped re-establish his value around the league. This offseason, Brisker had the opportunity to sit down with one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, Aaron Donald, to pick his brain and gain insight from a future Hall of Famer. During their conversation, Brisker revealed one of his biggest frustrations from his time in Chicago.
"The crazy thing is, though, that’s exactly what I was trying to do up in Chicago," Brisker told Donald after receiving his advice. "I was doing that. I was meeting with them. We had calls where it was like, 'Yeah, they’re going to send me off the edge,' but they would never call it."
Donald made it clear that he believed Brisker needed to spend more time with the coaching staff, watching film, studying himself, and continuing to build a stronger understanding of his role. Brisker agreed with the advice, but he couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that he was already trying to do those exact things during his time in Chicago.
Jacob Funk / Chicago Bears
Former Bears safety Jaquan Brisker stands on the playing surface as he gets ready for the ball to be snapped during a professional football game at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.
The biggest challenge with the Bears, according to Brisker’s perspective, was that the organization was also going through a transition with a new coaching staff. Building trust, establishing communication, and getting everyone on the same page was not always an easy process.
Donald’s advice was for Brisker to be more direct with the coaching staff and hold them accountable by making sure they understood the plays he felt he could make an impact on. For a veteran player, having that open communication with coaches can be the difference between simply being on the field and being put in positions to truly succeed.
Steelers Hope Graham’s Scheme Unlocks Brisker’s Full Potential
That message carries significant importance for the Steelers as Brisker enters a new chapter in Pittsburgh. Not only is this a new system for Brisker, but it is also a period of transition for the entire Steelers organization, including the fan base, coaching staff, and defensive personnel.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers new safety Jaquan Brisker works out in organized team activities in Pittsburgh in May of 2026.
Based on Brisker’s conversation with Donald, it is clear that he felt as if his skill-set was not fully maximized during his time in Chicago. Now, he enters 2026 with renewed confidence and optimism that Graham’s defensive scheme will allow him to be placed in better positions to make the type of impact he believes he is capable of making.
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