Steelers' Asante Samuel: Returns to full health in 2025
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Samuel recorded 10 total tackles (six solo) and an interception over six contests during the 2025 regular season.
Samuel underwent neck surgery in April ahead of the 2025 season, and as a result, he remained a free agent until he was signed to the Steelers' practice squad in early November. The cornerback made his team debut Nov. 30 versus the Bills, and he appeared in each of Pittsburgh's final six regular-season games and the team's 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round. Samuel's most notable moment as a Steeler came when he picked off Tua Tagovailoa in the first quarter of the team's 28-15 win over the Dolphins in Week 15, notching his first interception since the 2023 campaign with the Chargers. The cornerback will enter the offseason as a free agent, and he'll likely have multiple suitors after proving his health in 2025.
Harmon recorded 27 total tackles (11 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed and a fumble recovery over 12 games during the 2025 regular season.
Harmon opened the season on the sidelines after suffering a sprained MCL in late August, but he was only forced to miss two contests. The 2025 first-round pick then hit the ground running, securing seven total takedowns, including 2.0 sacks, over his first three games. Harmon then became somewhat of background character on the Steelers defense for the rest of the regular season, ultimately missing three more contests with a separate knee injury in late November and early December. The defensive lineman did leave his mark on Pittsburgh's 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round though, notching six tackles, one which was a sack. Harmon will enter the 2026 campaign looking to make a second-year leap with the Steelers.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Disruptive in 2025
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Pierre recorded 30 total tackles (14 solo), 11 passes defensed, including an interception, while also adding a fumble recovery over 14 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Pierre slotted in as one of Pittsburgh's primary options at cornerback in 2025, and he stepped up to secure a career-high 11 passes defensed. Additionally, the 29-year-old scooped up the first fumble recovery of his six-year NFL career, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown in Week 11 against the Bengals. Pierre is set to become a free agent in the offseason, but the Steelers will likely be interested in bringing him back for 2026.
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Steelers' Jack Sawyer: Limited role in rookie campaign
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Sawyer recorded 34 total tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding four passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, over 17 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Sawyer split his time pretty evenly between defense and special teams, but he was still able to make a few splash plays in 2025. The rookie linebacker notched his first career sack in Week 2 against the Seahawks, and he later added an interception in Week 9 versus the Colts and another one in Week 17 at Cleveland. Sawyer also found himself in the backfield in the Steelers' 30-6 loss to the Texans in the wild-card round, recording a strip-sack of C.J. Stroud in the first quarter, a fumble which teammate Yahya Black recovered. The linebacker figures to enter the 2026 season as a top reserve option behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker.
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Steelers' DeShon Elliott: Injury-shortened campaign in 2025
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Elliott (knee) recorded 38 total tackles (20 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed, one of which was an interception, and a forced fumble over five games during the 2025 regular season.
Elliott suffered a sprained MCL in Pittsburgh's Week 1 win over the Jets before he later suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Packers in Week 8. The safety was rather productive when active, but the five appearances set a new career-low for the 28-year-old. Elliott signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension with the Steelers prior to the campaign, so he'll look to get back to full strength and compete for a starting role with the team in 2026.
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Steelers' Malik Harrison: Consistent production in 2025
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Harrison recorded 41 total tackles (25 solo) over 11 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Harrison joined the Steelers in free agency ahead of the 2025 campaign following a five-year run with the Ravens. The linebacker suffered a knee injury in Week 1, and he was forced to miss Pittsburgh's next six games as a result. Once healthy, Harrison was able to average 3.9 tackles per game, and on the year, he secured at least 40 total takedowns for the second straight season and third time overall. The 27-year-old will look to compete for a starting role at inside linebacker with the Steelers in 2026.
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Steelers' Kyle Dugger: Second wind with Pittsburgh
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Dugger compiled 59 total tackles (29 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, over 16 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Dugger entered the 2025 campaign in his sixth season with the Patriots, but he was traded to the Steelers in late October after being used sparingly in New England. The safety was thrust into a prominent role in Pittsburgh's secondary, notching 42 total takedowns and two interceptions, including a 73-yard pick-six in Week 11 against the Bengals, while also adding three other passes defensed over nine regular-season games with the team. Dugger is still under contract for two more years after inking a four-year, $58 million contract with the Patriots in 2024, and he'll likely have a strong chance to start in the Steelers' secondary next season.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Increased output in Pittsburgh
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Echols recorded 48 total tackles (34 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 16 games during the 2025 regular season.
Echols joined the Steelers ahead of the 2025 campaign after four seasons with the Jets, and he was able to see an uptick in his production. The cornerback registered six passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, and he has now notched at least two interceptions on three of his five NFL seasons. Echols will enter 2026 in the final year of his two-year, $6 million contract with Pittsburgh, and he'll look to compete for a starting role at slot cornerback.
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Steelers' Cameron Heyward: Another productive season
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Heyward recorded 78 total tackles (38 solo), including 3.5 sacks, while also adding six passes defensed and a forced fumble over 17 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Heyward was able to exceed 70 total takedowns for the second straight year and fourth time in the last five seasons. The defensive lineman has now registered at least 2.0 sacks in 13 straight campaigns. Even though it was his 15th season in Pittsburgh, Heyward continues to be one of the most productive players at his position in the league, being selected as a second-team All-Pro in 2025.
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Steelers' Nick Herbig: Sets career-best mark in sacks
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Herbig recorded 30 tackles (21 solo), including 7.5 sacks, along with an interception, three pass defenses, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
While Herbig's tackle total didn't jump off the page during the 2025 campaign, he ranked second on the team in sacks despite appearing in just 15 regular-season matchups. The 2023 fourth-round pick was on the field for just 53 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps this year and could have the potential to build upon his production during the final season of his rookie contract in 2026 if his playing time increases.
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Steelers' Keeanu Benton: Tops 50 tackles in 2025
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Benton generated 51 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, along with a pass defense and a forced fumble while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Benton's production over his first two professional seasons in 2023 and 2024 was incredibly consistent, as he recorded exactly 36 tackles (16 solo), including one sack, during each of his first two years in the NFL. However, he took a sizable step forward in 2025, setting career-best marks in tackles and sacks. The 2023 second-rounder has yet to miss a game in his career and will attempt to build upon his momentum during the final year of his rookie contract in 2026.
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Steelers' Chuck Clark: Takes step back in 2025
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Clark logged 51 tackles (31 solo) along with three pass defenses and a forced fumble over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Clark joined the Steelers on a one-year contract ahead of the 2025 campaign, but his production declined during his first year with his new team. He recorded his lowest number of tackles since the 2018 season and wasn't very effective at defending passes. Clark will be an unrestricted free agent during the offseason and could have to settle for another short-term deal ahead of his age-31 season.
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Steelers' Joey Porter: Totals 52 tackles in regular season
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Porter logged 52 tackles (35 solo), including a sack, along with an interception and 14 pass defenses while appearing in 14 regular-season games in 2025.
Porter suffered a hamstring injury during the Steelers' regular-season opener that forced him to miss three games early in the year, but he still put together a productive campaign. Despite his missed games, the 2023 second-round pick set a career-high mark in pass defenses. Porter is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 and should have plenty of motivation to remain productive during his contract year.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey: Matches career-high mark in tackles
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Ramsey recorded 88 tackles (53 solo), including three sacks, along with an interception and eight pass defenses while appearing in all 17 games during the 2025 regular season.
Ramsey had somewhat disappointing results during his two seasons in Miami, but he bounced back during his first year with the Steelers in 2025. He matched his career-best total in tackles while also racking up a career-high three sacks. Ramsey inked a four-year restructured contract with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 campaign, so he should remain a leader in the secondary in 2026.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen: Tops 100 tackles once again in 2025
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Queen logged 120 tackles (56 solo), including a sack, along with four pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Queen has yet to miss a regular-season game over his first six professional campaigns, and he's topped 100 tackles in five of those seasons. While he's recorded just one sack in each of his two seasons with the Steelers, he should remain involved during the playoffs and will presumably garner plenty of interest as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Leads team in sacks in 2025
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Highsmith posted 50 tackles (36 solo), including 9.5 sacks, along with three pass defenses and a forced fumble while appearing in 13 regular-season games in 2025.
Although Highsmith had a pair of two-game absences in 2025 due to ankle and pectoral injuries, he managed to reach the 50-tackle threshold for the fourth time in his first six professional seasons while also recording a team-high 9.5 sacks. The 2020 third-round pick saw plenty of work down the stretch after returning to game action in Week 13, and he should maintain a prominent role during the playoffs.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Logs seven sacks in regular season
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Watt tallied 55 tackles (23 solo), including seven sacks, along with two interceptions, eight pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 14 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Watt missed three of the Steelers' final four games of the regular season due to a partially collapsed lung. While most of his total numbers were down from the 2023 and 2024 campaigns -- when he didn't miss any games -- he was still relatively efficient in 2025 and finished third on the team in sacks despite missing three matchups. Watt returned to action for the team's Week 18 matchup against the Ravens and will continue to be available to begin the playoffs. The 2017 first-round pick signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 season, so he'll remain a focal point for the team's defense in 2026.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Improves in second pro season
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Wilson recorded 126 tackles (74 solo), including two sacks, along with an interception, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Wilson showed promise as a rookie in 2024 with 78 tackles (49 solo), an interception, two pass defenses, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown, and he took a step forward in his second professional season by leading the Steelers in tackles. He had four games with double-digit tackles and should remain heavily involved in the playoffs and during the 2026 campaign.
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Steelers' Isaiahh Loudermilk: Not available for wild-card round
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The Steelers downgraded Loudermilk (ankle) from questionable to out in advance of Monday's wild-card game against the Texans.
Loudermilk was cleared to resume practicing this week for the first time since Week 2 after the Steelers opened his 21-day practice window, but the fifth-year defensive lineman remains on injured reserve so he doesn't count toward Pittsburgh's active roster. If Pittsburgh wins Monday, Loudermilk could be an option to return to action during the divisional round.
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Steelers' Isaiahh Loudermilk: Questionable to face Texans
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Loudermilk (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's wild-card game against the Texans, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Loudermilk hasn't taken the field since Week 2, and he logged a pair of limited practices during the week. He'll need to be activated from injured reserve before the game to have the chance to suit up.
