The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2026 season on Sunday as the team took on the Atlanta Falcons at home. The Steelers were able to get the win and start the season off 1-0, but it was a sloppy victory. The offense was sluggish at times, and it was clear it was the first week of the season as some players weren't on the same page on occasion. The defense for Pittsburgh stood out as the group was able to hold Atlanta to just 13 points on the day, but that should be expected as the Steelers have one of the highest-paid defenses in the league and the Falcons were starting a third-string quarterback.
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Steelers' Jaquan Brisker high fives fans after beating the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
A big part of the defensive success for Pittsburgh on Sunday was newly acquired safety Jaquan Brisker. He signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh during free agency, and the deal was thought to be a steal for Pittsburgh. He was an addition that largely flew under the radar, but he made his mark almost immediately on Sunday as he picked off quarterback Cooper Rush. He was also a force in the running game as he was consistently coming up from his safety spot and making plays on the ball carrier.
The safety spoke to the media after the win over the Falcons, and he talked about what it was like to suit up for the Steelers in his first game with the team. He is from the area, so it was a special moment for Brisker.
"Really, during the anthem, I was definitely emotional," Brisker said. "Knowing my family is here, and missing one, but it's okay. Had 30 here."
Brisker is from Monroeville, which is a suburb outside of Pittsburgh. He has a ton of family in the area, and that was evident as he had 30 family members in attendance for his first game as a Steeler. That same group of family members showed up in Latrobe, PA to cheer Brisker on during training camp, and he will probably have a large group of family moving forward at every home game.
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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker (3) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Brisker was able to put on a show for his family that was in attendance, but he also did it in honor of the family member who couldn't be there. He lost his brother back when he was in high school after he was killed, and Brisker keeps a photograph of his brother in his locker which he pointed out while speaking with the media. It is quite touching that he was able to come up with the interception in his first game back in Pittsburgh as a Steeler.
The safety was initially a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears after playing his college ball at Penn State. He was teammates with both Pat Freiermuth and Joey Porter Jr., so he had familiarity within the organization before even returning home to Pittsburgh.
Steelers Will Be Relying On Jaquan Brisker Heavily
Brisker is going to be relied on more than what was initially thought. Veteran safety DeShon Elliott was placed on injured reserve to begin the season, which means he will be out for at least the first four games, and that means Brisker's involvement with the defense is going to be pretty high. It moves him into a surefire starting role, and he has started that tenure off quite well. He was third on the team in total tackles as he recorded six in the game, and his interception was also huge as it set up Pittsburgh's only offensive touchdown drive.
The safety is going to look to keep a high level of play rolling into Week 2 as the Steelers prepare for the reigning AFC Champions in the New England Patriots. The defense will be facing the 2025 MVP runner-up, and it is sure to be a challenge.
What do you think about Brisker's comments on his return to Pittsburgh? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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