Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Michael Pittman Jr. hauled in a 16-yard pass last Sunday, moving the Indianapolis Colts deep into the hosts’ territory. Neither the receiver nor Pittsburgh Steelers veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey went without paying for it. The latter did so in a much more literal sense.
The NFL fined Ramsey $17,389 for his violent collision with Pittman Jr. Ramsey was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the hit, which was deemed to have occurred against a defenseless player.
“I’m just playing, man. Playing the only way I know how to play,” Ramsey said Friday after practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Trying to keep the game of football fierce, physical (and) competitive. Getting those opportunities, I’ll continue to do the same things. I did it legally. Didn’t hit him in the head or neck area. I kept my head and neck out of it. So I’ll continue to do those things and hopefully not get penalized for playing the game the right way.”
I asked #Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey about his big hits on Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr. against the Colts.
“I’m playing the only way I know how to play. Trying to keep the game of football fierce, physical (and) competitive.”
Listen for his whole answer: pic.twitter.com/MALf5jpWTx
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) November 7, 2025
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin wasn’t bothered that Ramsey was penalized for his physicality. Playing safety, Ramsey also drove Colts standout rookie tight end Tyler Warren into the ground earlier in the game.
“I loved (the hits),” Austin said Thursday. “I mean, it’s football. It’s a violent game, and I like the way that he does that. I think the hits were clean. I know he got flagged for one, but when you look at it, he led with his shoulder. He wasn’t doing anything dirty, so we like a physical brand of ball. And I think what happens when you play that type of ball, receivers take note of that, that if you’re gonna be running across the middle of the field, there’s gonna be somebody that might tag you. So it helps us.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: NFL Fines Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey for Vicious Hit
