Steelers Rookie Robert Spears-Jennings Earns Strong Praise From Jon Gruden

The Pittsburgh Steelers took a chance on Robert Spears-Jennings in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Halfway through his rookie season, that late pick is getting noticed far outside of Pittsburgh. Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden broke down the Steelers' secondary ahead of Sunday night's showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he saved some of his strongest praise for the rookie safety.

Gruden went position by position through the Steelers' defense in his Week 10 preview on YouTube. When he got to the safeties, he made sure viewers knew about the rookie wearing No. 28.

"You're also going to see the emergence of number 28, this rookie they got from Oklahoma. This guy blurs the screen. Number 28, Robert Spears-Jennings, seventh-round pick. I looked him up. You know what he ran? 4.32," Gruden said.

Gruden was not just talking about speed. He went on to describe a player who brings much more than a fast 40-yard dash, and he credited the Steelers for trusting a rookie in a big role.

"He's tough. He has coverage ability. He'll communicate. There's not much he can't do. They have the confidence to start this kid. So, they are loaded at safety," Gruden said.

Safety was one of the bigger question marks on the roster heading into the season. Gruden's breakdown shows how much that has changed. 

He called Jalen Ramsey a weapon who can play safety, slot corner and even dime linebacker for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He praised Jaquan Brisker for his strong start in Pittsburgh, and he pointed to the return of veteran DeShon Elliott after an extended injury absence.

Gruden had plenty to say about the rest of the secondary, too. He argued that the emergence of cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was the real reason the Steelers felt comfortable trading Joey Porter Jr., and he praised Samuel for being consistent, available and reliable in coverage and as a tackler. 

He also singled out young cornerback Daylen Everette, who picked off a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and said the young defensive back can play when the Steelers go to their dime package.

Even with all of that experience, Spears-Jennings has carved out a real role. He has maintained a snap share of around 50% in recent weeks, and SteelerNation recently looked at how the rising rookie could make Elliott's return a tough situation. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo said on 93.7 The Fan that the coaches have raved about the rookie, and that Pittsburgh may have found a steal.

Not every message has been a pat on the back. Steelers legend James Harrison had a blunt message for Spears-Jennings earlier this month, and the rookie has responded by stacking good performances. For a seventh-round pick, that is about as good a start as the Steelers could have hoped for.

Gruden was just as impressed by the linebackers. He said Patrick Queen is playing better this year than he has in the previous two seasons, and he praised Payton Wilson for his range. He wrapped up his look at the defense by calling the matchup the hottest offense in football against a well-rested, well-trained Steelers defense.

Gruden's comments also explain why Graham has so many options. With Ramsey able to slide down into the slot, the Steelers can keep two safeties deep and still match up with the Bengals' three-receiver sets. Spears-Jennings' speed gives Graham a player who can cover a lot of ground on the back end, which is exactly what is needed against a passing attack like Cincinnati's.

Steelers And Spears-Jenning's Face Massive Test Against The Bengals

That test is a big one. Joe Burrow has the Bengals scoring at least 31 points in each of their last four games, and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can turn any coverage mistake into a touchdown. Gruden expects Burrow to throw the ball 40 to 45 times on Sunday night, which means the Steelers' safeties will be busy.

If Spears-Jennings can hold up in that kind of game, Gruden's praise will look even better. A strong night on the national stage would be another sign that the Steelers found a long-term starter in the final round of the draft, and it would give Pittsburgh one less position to worry about heading into the offseason.

Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. at Paycor Stadium, with first place in the AFC North on the line.

This story was produced with the help of AI and reviewed by SteelerNation editors.

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