Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers saftey Juan Thornhill admitted that it felt great to get back at his former team the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
“It did. It felt good. I’m not going to lie to y’all, Thornhill said after the Steelers’ 23-9 win. “I wasn’t going to talk trash. I know people really wanted me to talk crazy to Cleveland, but I’m not going to do that. But it felt amazing getting that win.”
After playing on a strong 2023 Cleveland Browns defense, that unit came back down to reality in 2024. Thornhill was among those criticized by Cleveland media and the Browns fanbase.
Thornhill said all the right things on Thursday when speaking with reporters, taking the high road.
“I mean, I’m going to be honest,” Thornhill said. “I know a lot of people probably want me to talk trash about them. I’m not really going to talk trash about them. I don’t really care who we’re playing. I’ve said this multiple times: It’s a nameless opponent. If I’m being real, I just don’t care who will line up in front of me. I’m just ready to play… I’m over Cleveland.
“I don’t need any motivation.; I can motivate myself,” Thornhill said. “I don’t care who we play. If you get to (trash) talking a little bit, I like to talk. I’m not the one that’s going to start it, but if they want to start talking, I’m down for that. I’m down for all that smoke. But it’s going to be fun. I can’t wait for it.”
In response to Cleveland’s criticism and “bashing” this offseason, Thornhill had a simple message. “If you sit back and watch the film of what I did in Cleveland, I have a lot of good plays … I make a lot of plays.”
Thornhill got the last laugh on Sunday with the Steelers beating the Browns in convincing fashion. Pittsburgh is now 4-1 and atop of the AFC North, while Cleveland is in the basement of the AFC North at 1-5.
Thronill wrote on X after the game, “Jogged my ass out of Acrisure with a W.”
Jogged my ass out of Acrisure with a W pic.twitter.com/iRt9nXpakZ
— The Chosen Juan👑🙇🏽♂️ (@Juan_Thornhill) October 12, 2025
Alan Saunders and Brenden Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Safety Admits It ‘Felt Amazing’ Getting Payback on Browns
