Having already lost Kevin Byard and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Bears will see another veteran defensive back walk out the door in free agency. Safety Jaquan Brisker is signing with the Steelers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. It’s a one-year, $5.5MM deal, per Garafolo and colleague Ian Rapoport.
Brisker is heading back to his native Pittsburgh, which will be his second NFL stop. After a standout college career at Penn State, Brisker joined the Bears as a second-round pick in 2022. The 26-year-old started in all 52 of his games with the Bears.
Brisker played back-to-back 15-game seasons to begin his career, but he missed time with concussions in both years. Another head injury cost Brisker 12 games in 2024. Despite that, Brisker brushed off retirement in favor of continuing his career last year.
Not only did the 6-foot-1, 204-pounder log his first 17-game season in 2025, but he led all Bears defenders with a 99.91% defensive snap share (Byard finished second at 99.81%). Brisker tallied 93 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception along the way. Pro Football Focus ranked Brisker’s performance a solid 45th among 91 qualifying safeties. With a 79.0 grade against the run, he placed 20th in that category.
Kyle Dugger, Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers were among the Steelers’ safety choices last season, but all three are now unsigned. Brisker will join a group that includes Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott and the newly signed Darnell Savage. Between Brisker and former Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean, Pittsburgh has added two full-time starters to its secondary this week.
I like the player a lot. I wish he didn’t have the medical history that would prevent him from getting more than this. More than anything, I hope he can stay clear of more concussions.
The interesting piece to me is Elliott returning. His impact on the back end was noticeable after he went down.
I suppose this means more freedom to move Ramsey around, but Pittsburgh suddenly has a lot of players competing for snaps on the back end with Brisker, Elliott, Ramsey, Dean, Samuel, and Porter all back there as possible starters across the board. If Porter stays outside, I assume that Dean is the other outside CB, with Samuel inside, Brisker as the strong safety, and Elliott over the top. That leaves Ramsey to roam about, I suppose, between positions.
Also Brandon Echols, who was a pretty solid nickel much of the time last year… that’s a lot of depth. A lot of good depth if everyone is 100% healthy.
More importantly, it means no more Kyle Dugger, Jabril Peppers, Chuck Clark, Larry, Moe, and Curly roaming around the secondary.
Big get for the Steelers. PA guy too
Huge bargain for a really talented guy in his prime.
Steelers are making some very smart moves this offseason.
He’s a bargain because it he takes one big hit to his head, his career may be over.
45th out of 91, sounds pretty mediocre to me
How did he not get a bigger deal? He’s been a good player, he’s young, missed a chunk of time in ’24 but that’s really it.
Brisker can’t run. He is a good blitzed but provides no help in coverage.
Great signing.
I’m guessing that with the signings we’ve seen so far, their draft focus will be on linemen, a wideout and uh, perhaps a QB?
I see that happening. The Steelers really could use linemen, in my opinion. Keep loading up until you get your five that you like.
I’d like to see them make a move at HB, even after the Dowdle signing. Never hurts to have another young option. I guess that we’ll see what they think of Howard.
I have a suspicion that they might be interested in Simpson, but I also have a feeling that he’ll be gone by then. Rolling with a vet and Howard (and maybe Rudolph, if things don’t shake out) looks like it’s in the cards, but I think that it will all depend on who’s available. There’s probably a good QB after Simpson in this draft, but is his value obvious enough to beat out another player at the same spot for the pick? I suppose we’ll see.
I don’t think they’re gonna give up on the kid they drafted from Iowa last year. (Jeez. I forgot his name). I have to think between the three of these guys, they believe they’re set at running back
Agree with you about linemen. Still seemed like Rodgers was under fire quite often last season.
Kaleb Johnson.
Love this guy. Wanted the Steelers to draft him so badly when he was in the draft 5 years ago. What a nice get for the Steelers after having to duct tape together their secondary last year.
Nice Lil signing,,I was hoping we were going to sign a LG or Lt, we can’t go in this year trusting jones at LT. AA is to old to take hits he might break a hip.man towards the end of the season he was getting smoked. They should ban his stupid chin gaurd and put a real one on, everytime he got hit his helmet would constantly move around his face
Still a number of linemen on the market
Again it’s a question of scheme. Brisker was drafted for playing a bend don’t break scheme which Allen doesn’t play. Allen likes to to man to man defense where LB’s and S’s cover RB’s and TE’s. And he likes to pressure the QB all things Eberlose never heard of. Brisker greatly benefited from his one year under Al Harris where he learned to tackle without leading with his head and made it through the year. So not a good one on one defender and an injury risk so the Bears moved on. He can be quite successful if the scheme fits him and his noggin holds up. Early in his career he seemed more interested in seeing himself on Sports Center Clips than getting the job done but anyway good luck.
This draft should be all O-Line, D-Line and WR. Sprinkle in a few LBs. Building inside-out is the way to go.
passionate player. loves the contact. however the concussion history is scary.
Brisker is one of my favorites I truly hated to see him leave the Bears. Hopefully he can stay healthy which has not been easy for him to do with Pittsburgh. Best of luck!