It didn't take long for the Pittsburgh Steelers to find an answer to their Darius Slay problem. However, their golden ticket is the last player fans expected. Every time Mike Tomlin's team needed quality cornerback play in a pinch, it was James Pierre who stepped up to the plate. This is wild, considering Pierre didn't even make the team's initial 53-man roster on August 26.
Pierre was quickly stashed on the practice squad, and after getting elevated from the PS to play against the New York Jets in Week 1, the Steelers realized they wanted him on the active roster moving forward.
With Slay attempting to work his way back from concussion protocol from an injury suffered on Sunday Night Football against the Chargers in Week 10, it was Pierre who made the start at right cornerback for Pittsburgh in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Now Pierre may have already done enough to keep his new starting gig.
James Pierre has earned a starting job on the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense
Pierre had an exceptional performance against the Bengals, as he was a big reason Ja'Marr Chase was held in check all game. After dicing up the Steelers' secondary for 16 receptions and 161 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets back in Week 7, Chase recorded just three catches on 10 targets for 30 yards in Week 11 (thanks in large part to Pierre).
On 175 defensive snaps this season, Pierre is now the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus—earning an overall grade of 90.9 entering Week 12. This is something nobody saw coming.
For the past six years, Pierre fought tooth and nail during Steelers training camps just for the right to keep his job on the 53-man roster. Suddenly, the 29-year-old cornerback looks like the best defensive back on the team... and giving him one more shot to prove himself was arguably the best team the Steelers made this season.
Pierre has been brilliant in his part-time role this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Pierre has allowed just nine receptions on 21 targets for 70 yards this year, while breaking up two passes. The veteran cornerback got the ultimate test against Chase and the Bengals in Week 11... and he passed with flying colors.
Pierre could come crashing back down to earth in the coming weeks, but he's night and day better than the egregious sample of play we've seen from Darius Slay for over half of the 2025 season. James Pierre is shocking the Steelers community, but we're loving every second of it.