Steelers Now
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jabrill Peppers was more affectionate than vengeful. Two weeks into his Pittsburgh Steelers tenure, the former New England Patriots safety let the crowd at Gillette Stadium know it on Sunday after his third-quarter takeaway.
Peppers, whose team earned a 21-14 victory, made his way to the Steelers’ end zone after creating the fourth of his defense’s five turnovers on the day, kissed his hands and opened his arms wide.
“I envisioned it last night,” Peppers said afterward. “I definitely envisioned it last night. Let the fans know I miss them, but I’m down with the Steel Curtain now and I hope they become a fan over here, too. … I just had to keep my emotions in check. Not let the moment be too big, let the plays come to you.”
Peppers was making his first start in black and gold after arriving earlier this month. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel released Peppers late last month after he’d made 26 starts for the team over three campaigns.
New #Steelers SS Jabrill Peppers on getting a FF/FR in a win over his former #Patriots teammates:
"I needed this one. … It feels good right now. … I had to keep my emotions in check, not letting the moment be too big and let the plays come to you." pic.twitter.com/1xOo6iIjBQ
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) September 21, 2025
Peppers landed in Pittsburgh after starting safety DeShon Elliott was injured during Week 1’s win over the New York Jets. Peppers said he “dived in the playbook every day, every night, to make sure I’m on top of my game, to make sure I communicate the right way.”
Playing instinctually against his former crew, Peppers fended off a block and upended Antonio Gibson on a first-and-10 from the Steelers’ 43-yard line. The ball popped out in front of Peppers, laying prone on the ground by then. He crawled toward it, clawing it with his right hand and pulling it under him.
“It was one of their run looks,” Peppers said. “They tightened Mack (Hollins) down. I knew he had the block. I just had to defeat the crack block and then put my face on the ball. Punch at the ball and put your face on it, good things will happen for you.”
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense went three-and-out after, setting the stage for Drake Maye’s offense to knot it up at 14 on their next possession. Rodgers knows how it feels to get back at a team that let him go. He beat the New York Jets during Week 1.
“I think as former players, when you’re playing former teams, that’s what you want,” Rodgers said. “You want to make a big play and make them think about what they lost. There’s always that. … He was definitely happy in the locker room.”
Peppers admitted the win meant a little bit more to him.
“Absolutely. I needed this one,” Peppers said. “I thank each...
