Steelers Get Urgent Warning About Jaquan Brisker Ahead Of Week 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new-look defense entering the 2026 regular season. The team acquired cornerback Jamel Dean from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and safety Jaquan Brisker from the Chicago Bears. Both are expected to have a massive role on the defensive side of the ball for Pittsburgh this season. Brisker, specifically, is viewed as one of the better safeties the Steelers have had over the past few years. What should fans expect from him as he makes his debut in the Black and Gold?

Pittsburgh has had a very lackluster group of defensive backs for many seasons now. The only real highlight of the past few years was the acquisition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back in 2019, who had some great seasons in the Steel City. More recently, the Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr., who is a rising star, but is in the middle of a contract dispute. The organization also recently acquired safety DeShon Elliott and Jalen Ramsey, who have both performed very well, respectively. 

It is confirmed that Elliott is going to miss some time to start the season, so the Steelers' newest safety, Brisker, is going to have to step up in a big way. In a recent episode of Kaboly + Mack, Steelers Correspondent Mark Kaboly discussed Brisker's presumed role and how he will fit into the defense.

"My biggest watch on Sunday will be the defense, especially Jaquan Brisker," Kaboly explained. "I think he can be really good. I know he would be really good with Elliott next to him. Right now, Ramsey could be flipping back and forth."

Brisker will surely be asked to do a lot for his new defense, as Elliott is a very key piece to the team. He has a very similar play style compared to Elliott, so he should be able to slide in very nicely. Once the team gets Elliott back, this duo could be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

Brisker played college football with the Penn State Nittany Lions. He earned Second Team All-American honors in his final season, boosting his draft stock. Brisker was selected 48th overall by the Bears during the 2022 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact on the defense. He recorded 340 total tackles across four seasons with the Bears and was one of the most consistent pieces on that unit. 

Pittsburgh inked the safety to a one-year contract in March of 2026, and he was instantly presumed the starting safety opposite Elliott. Brisker, while a very talented player, will have a lot on his plate during the early portion of the season without Elliott. The hope is that new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham can move pieces around on the defense to make Brisker's life a bit easier until Elliott returns.

Steelers' Defensive Back Connections Could Influence Joey Porter Jr.

As previously mentioned, star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains without a new contract as the Steelers' season opener is quickly approaching. The team desperately needs Porter Jr. on the field this season, as he is easily Pittsburgh's best defensive back. The addition of Brisker could potentially be the final piece to getting this deal done for the team.

Brisker and Porter Jr. played together during their time at Penn State. The two were both very impressive and performed well together on the field. Porter Jr.'s agent recently reposted a photo of Porter Jr. and Brisker from their college days that Brisker shared on his social media. Porter Jr.'s agent wrote, "Run it back soon," on the photo and tagged both players in the repost. Steelers fans are hoping that the connection these two share could make both sides more willing to get a deal done, as the players' chemistry could lead to on-field success during the 2026 NFL season. Time is ticking, though, as the Steelers begin their season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, September 13th.

#SteelerNation