Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home win last Sunday, Jalen Ramsey hadn’t exclusively played safety during a game since his freshman year at Florida State. The veteran defensive back is willing to fill whatever role is needed for Mike Tomlin’s team to succeed.
Revitalizing his Hall of Fame career is just one of the benefits that accompany his volunteer attitude.
“Thirteen (years) or something like that, so it’s been a while,” Ramsey said of his most recent full-time foray as a safety after practice on Friday. “It’s definitely not (like) riding a bike. It’s tough, but fun. I mean, I love football, all pieces of it, I’ll enjoy and try to embrace. I guess you could say maybe it brings sort of a new energy for me just because playing corner for 10 years, you kinda learn the game and it becomes, ‘Same old, same old, same old every day, man.’
“At safety, now, just in the meetings and things like that, I’m learning kind of new things to look at and different ways to look at the game from the safety’s point of view.”
Playing safety is giving #Steelers veteran DB Jalen Ramsey a new vantage point. Before last Sunday against the Colts, he hadn't played in that spot for a full game since his freshman year at Florida State.
"It’s definitely not (like) riding a bike. It’s tough, but fun. I mean, I… pic.twitter.com/Lt7XwHPV1J
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) November 7, 2025
Ramsey played the first nine years of his NFL career adeptly manning the outside. After Steelers starting safety DeShon Elliott badly hyperextended his knee against the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers were already short at the position. Jabrill Peppers (soft-tissue injury) and Chuck Clark (illness) both missed the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, as well. Preparing for the matchup, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin approached Ramsey.
“When the conversation came up, he knew where we were at the time at safety and he would do anything to win,” Austin said. “I think guys like him, man, they’re just football players. They just love to play ball, and they love to win. Whatever you need to do to win, he’s all for. So, it was no problem. There was no (pushback). It was actually like, ’OK, hey, what do you need me to do? Let’s go.’”
“It was mutual, to be honest. Just feeling like that’s what the team needed, that’s what the secondary needs and just working to prepare and be a solid safety for the guys,” Ramsey said.
Tomlin said on Tuesday that Ramsey will stay put on the back end against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Clark has since returned to practice, while Peppers is making his way back, as well. The newly acquired Kyle Dugger, who played beside Ramsey against the Colts, is still coming along with his new team.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: [Position Shift Reinvigorating...
