Safety play in the NFL can sometimes be overlooked, but that has never been the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout their storied history, players like Donnie Shell, Carnell Lake, Troy Polamalu, and recently Minkah Fitzpatrick have been the leaders of their respective secondary units.
With Fitzpatrick no longer in Pittsburgh, DeShon Elliott is now the top safety in town. He was a huge steal in free agency in 2024, and he earned himself a nice extension heading into 2025.
Unfortunately, Elliott suffered a knee injury in their Week 1 victory over the Jets, and he missed the next two weeks. The defense struggled mightily on the back end without him, and he immediately made his presence felt in his first game back against the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.
DeShon Elliott wasted no time making his presence felt in his return for Pittsburgh Steelers
Elliott is known for his run defense and tackling above all else, but his first of many big plays came in coverage. Thanks to a batted pass by rookie Derrick Harmon, Elliott swooped in to intercept a wobbly pass from Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz late in the first half.
If that wasn't enough, he later forced a fumble on a sack of Wentz, even after initially getting upended by Jordan Mason on a blitz. The Vikings recovered the fumble, but the drive ultimately ended thanks to a T.J. Watt interception a few plays later.
He even helped end the game on the last play, batting down a desperation heave by Wentz on fourth down. He was all over the field for a defense that needed better play from their secondary, and they mostly got it outside a few big plays from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Elliott isn't a true star at the safety position, but his value to the Steelers has never been clearer. He is quickly becoming one of their most reliable and effective starters, and the decision to extend him looks better the longer fans see him out there.
With the pass rush finally coming to life over the last two games, Elliott and the rest of the secondary should continue to look better and better as the season moves along. Here's hoping he can stay on the field after showing how much his injury impacted the defense.