Steelers Newcomer 'Surprised' By Contract Situation

The Pittsburgh Steelers arguably made one of the steals of free agency when they signed a 2022 second-round pick to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.

Safety Jaquan Brisker, a native of Pittsburgh, joined the Steelers after a quiet free agency. As a four-year starter for the Bears, Brisker made 342 tackles, seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and four interceptions during his first four seasons in the league.

Brisker was the Bears' leading tackler in a 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January's Division Round game. He recorded 14 tackles, one sack, and two passes defensed.

Then he went into free agency.

Mostly crickets.

The legal tampering period began on March 9. The Bears didn't seem interested in re-signing Brisker, opting to let him and fellow starting safety Kevin Byard III walk in free agency. (The Bears would sign Coby Bryant in free agency and draft Dillon Thieneman in the first round.)

On March 16, a week after negotiations legally started in the league, Brisker came home to Pittsburgh. He was surprised the offer he signed was a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, but he's happy it came with the Steelers.

“I feel like that playoff game was what I could do all year with the Bears,” Brisker said of the loss to the Rams, via Mark Kaboly. “I was surprised ... I think everybody knows what I bring to the table, film-wise. And obviously, I just had to be in the right system. 

"Someone who could trust me, love me, and things like that, who assesses me as who I am. And I feel like that's what Pittsburgh has given me. I'm able to play football. I'm happy here. I'm able to be me. And you're going to see what PG does with me, and that's why I'm here.”

Part of the reason why Brisker had a hard time in the market was his history of injury, especially with concussions. He's known as a hard-hitting safety, and that led to him missing many snaps on defense in Chicago.

Brisker is buying into new head coach Mike McCarthy's system, noting that the Steelers have a much different culture than Chicago. There aren't as many egos in Pittsburgh.

“He's really preparing us for game day right now, and I say that's a big difference,” Brisker said. “We're doing a lot of different things, and a lot of moving parts, and everybody's buying in. 

"There's nobody who has an ego or anything like that. We walk in here, and it's a team atmosphere. So, it's a lot of different things. It's definitely, you know, definitely a different culture and things like that.”

Brisker will have an opportunity to show the Steelers he's worthy of a long-term contract if he can stay healthy and plays under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. 

Unlike in Chicago, Brisker will have a talented defense around him, which will free him up to play his best football.