With injuries in their secondary, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing free agent safety Jabrill Peppers.
Steelers Sign Safety Jabrill Peppers
Former #Patriots S Jabrill Peppers, a surprise release after cut-down day, is expected to sign with the #Steelers per me and @MikeGarafolo. They’ve agreed to terms. pic.twitter.com/s2WzY10VgO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2025
Per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Peppers is expected to sign with the Steelers. The team announced the deal later in the day.
The move comes days after the Steelers lost DeShon Elliot to a knee injury in the team’s 34-32 Week 1 victory over the New York Jets.
Elliot has been ruled out for Week 2’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Tomlin spoke highly of Peppers and his versatility at Tuesday’s press conference.
“He’s a football player first, a positional player second,” Tomlin said via the team’s website. “He’s displayed position flexibility over the course of his career at either safety position, at run-down nickel. He’s been a capable guy in the special teams space over the course of his career, covering kicks, returning punts. He’s just a good, well-rounded football player. So glad to add and have him in the fold. We’ll see how we divide the labor up as we get into the week. The ability to communicate and execute will obviously be a major component in how we divide that labor up and go from there.”
The Cleveland Browns selected Peppers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
After two seasons, Peppers was traded to the New York Giants in the Odell Beckham Jr. deal.
Peppers has spent the last three seasons with the New England Patriots. Pepper was surprisingly cut by the Patriots last month.
Peppers has 510 tackles, 7 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 35 passes defensed, and 5.5 sacks in 99 games.
Peppers will get a chance to exact revenge on New England when the Steelers play the Patriots in Week 3.
Steelers Pull Off Comeback Victory In Week 1
CAREER-LONG, GO-AHEAD FG FOR CHRIS BOSWELL
A 60-yarder puts the Steelers back in front late! pic.twitter.com/r7j1WOGUxy
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025
Aaron Rodgers had a good debut in the black and gold.
Rodgers completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the 34-32 victory over his former team.
After the Jets took a 31-31 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers drove the ball into the Jets’ territory. Chris Boswell nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining to give the Steelers a 34-32 lead.
The Steelers then turned the Jets over on downs the following drive to clinch the victory.
The Steelers (1-0) host the Seahawks (0-1) in Week 2.
