Steelers Legend James Harrison Gave A Harsh Message To Robert Spears-Jennings

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been getting a heavy contribution from their 2026 rookie class. A lot of the young guys involved in the game plan have been effective. Pittsburgh isn't typically this reliant on rookies, but with a new coaching staff, things have changed everywhere, and this is easily one of the better mix-ups. 

Their top two picks, Max Iheanachor and Germie Bernard, have been the biggest contributors from the clss, but the next notable playmaker might just be seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings. The safety isn't necessarily a starter, but he plays most of the snaps and has won the trust of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and the rest of the staff.

Spears-Jennings is an excellent tackler and excels against the run. He has also been steady in pass coverage. The consensus around the rookie is that he's been very solid for a seventh-round pick, but he hasn't won everyone over. A former Steelers legend had a harsh message for the rookie about his coverage skills. 

James Harrison appeared on his show Deebo & Joe, where he saw Spears-Jennings' Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade and was appalled. Spears-Jennings boasts the highest tackling grade among rookie safeties, and while that's always been his strength, Harrison called out his coverage ability, and saod he needs to force more incompletions. 

"The 28 we was seeing, bro. Yeah he making tackles, but hel*, we trying to have the ball not caught," Harrison stated. "Hel*, it's cool. It ain't, it ain't Joe. You know it ain't cause what we were seeing?" 

Spears-Jennings hasn't been perfect, but he's been steady at a very thin position coming into the season. Opposing quarterbacks aren't picking on him the way you'd expect a rookie safety to. Getting the contribution they have out of him for a seventh-round pick is a win in itself. 

What Harrison has failed to see is Spears-Jennings passer rating allowed, which is a solid 37.5. PFF isn't the most reliable when evaluating a player, and both Harrison and Haden said this claim was based on film rather than stats. However, Spears-Jennings is clearly good in coverage with a rating that low. 

The rookie also brings youth to a secondary that needed it. He and Daylen Everette have played significant snaps, and their speed has made a difference. Both have given up plays, but have made their fair share of good ones. So while Harrison may be right, playing rookies in the secondary is a double-edged sword, and Pittsburgh is seeing that. 

Much of their success can be credited to the defensive coaching staff, who are playing to their personnel's strengths and keeping them out of bad situations. Graham has run a very zone-heavy scheme and has kept his players out of man coverage, which has limited big plays. 

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Even with a secondary that isn't great by any measure, Pittsburgh has allowed just 18 points per game and 11.7 in its last three. The run defense has stolen the show, but the secondary is doing its part as well. As the defense starts playing better quarterbacks, we will get a clearer evaluation of where they truly are. 

A big factor will be the rookie wall, which hits everyone. The rookies are playing well now, but December and January come around, how will they perform? If Pittsburgh makes a move at the trade deadline for a secondary piece, they can handle this, but if not, they will have to rely on the rookies to overcome the wall. 

The Steelers' secondary has a bright future with Spears-Jennings and Everette, but it's about this season. Pittsburgh will need them to keep ascending, even as the season winds down and playoff time approaches. 

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