Steelers Now
Under the artist name J.Pepp, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jabrill Peppers released a rap single titled “Never Wanted Fame” on Friday. He didn’t directly reference his career on the gridiron during the 2:40 track.
The art for the song, which appears to have been generated by AI, features a man in a black hoodie — presumably Peppers — sitting in a room with a horde of fans out a window with cameras flashing. A black jersey sits nearby with the No. 5 and the name “Nobody.”
Peppers promoted the song on his TikTok profile leading up to the release. He’s posted one other track on his Spotify profile, “Point’Em Out (Radio Edit),” which was released in June 2025.
Peppers, who starred at Michigan as a collegian, was a first-round pick (No. 25 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent his first two NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns before playing three campaigns with both the New York Giants and New England Patriots. He joined the Steelers last season, playing in 14 games and totaling 16 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Music is nothing new to Peppers, who announced his commitment to Michigan on ESPN in 2014, freestyling before pledging to the Wolverines.
“You see, it started as a dream, my dad planted the seed. But when I started to sprout, he couldn’t be there to see,” Peppers rhymed. “Still I remain focused and transcended the rest, solidified through my journey, how can you not be impressed? And yes, to those who wait, the Lord brings blessings. I had this dream since I was 7, now I’m dream telling. I could see it now, the fans screaming, yelling, as I’m walking out that tunnel in a winged helmet.”
Spotrac tabs Peppers, a free agent, with a $1.3 million market value. Other safeties currently available include Jimmie Ward, Harrison Smith, Terrell Edmunds — a former Steelers first-round draft pick — and Jordan Poyer.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Ex-Steelers Safety Branches Out in Off-Field Endeavor
