Aaron Donald's lesson confirms what Steelers fans already knew about Jaquan Brisker

It takes more than one star to make significant differences. The Pittsburgh Steelers have X-factors at multiple levels, but roster holes delayed progress. A weak secondary became a nuisance for a franchise prone to restricting opponents. So Omar Khan’s front office shopped for improvements. 

This resulted in a one-year $5.5 million deal with Jaquan Brisker. It quickly became an investment I could get behind. 

From the beginning of his career, the former second-round pick wore a chip on his shoulder.  The resilience helped him recover from injuries and succeed on the gridiron. It’s even earned him one-on-one time learning techniques from All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. I know what you may be thinking. Why would a safety choose to study under a trench technician?

Well, the answer is simple. Playmakers make plays. And Brisker is a playmaker. 

His notoriety as one of the NFL’s talented defensive backs wasn’t given, but earned. In 2022, Brisker accumulated 104 tackles and four sacks. Since then, he’s averaged an interception in each campaign. Last year, the former Chicago Bear earned 93 tackles and a sack. Sure, injuries kept Brisker sidelined more than fans would have liked.

Concussions were a recurring theme for a while, but hopefully the motivated soldier remains healthy. 

Jaquan Brisker continues to prove he's meant to be a Pittsburgh Steelers with Aaron Donald's lesson

The truth is, Brisker couldn’t have come at a better time. Pittsburgh’s secondary issues were blatant last year. Sure, the unit was cohesive enough to stumble across ten wins. But the victories were not pretty. And neither were the stats. 

In 2025, Pittsburgh ranked at the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed (30th), yards per attempt allowed (t-21st), and passing touchdowns allowed (t-23rd). Blemishes made winnable games harder and extending the season impossible. Amid the storm, Pittsburgh failed to maintain consistency from its safeties.

Kyle Dugger, Jabril Peppers, and Jaquon Thornhill did their best to fill DeShon Elliott's shoes, but the effort was greater than the results. 

So when I come across a video of Pittsburgh’s newest safety learning block shedding techniques, it thrills me. Patrick Graham isn’t responsible for last season’s results. But he is in charge of ensuring a smooth operation in 2026. That includes placing X-factors on the field. I expect Pittsburgh’s defenders to fly around the field. They must be heavily involved in run support. 

So who better to learn from than Donald? 

Brisker’s offseason venture proves he's determined to make a difference in all phases of the game. Whether it’s filling running lanes or locking down receivers. It’s the perfect mentality for the Steelers’ starting safety to have. And I believe it will yield positive results. 

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