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Steelers’ Jaquan Brisker More Than Just a Good Story
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- Steelers’ Jaquan Brisker More Than Just a Good Story
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker at practice on May 18, 2026. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
It's always a good story when a Pittsburgh guy signs with the Steelers.
But Jaquan Brisker is expected to be more than just feel-good headlines.
Brisker grew up in Pittsburgh, and after his career at Gateway High School in Monroeville ended, he stayed in PA, first spending his first two seasons at Lackawanna Community College before transferring to Penn State.
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He became an All-American at PSU, then went in the second round (48th overall) of the 2022 draft to the Chicago Bears.
Over four seasons with the Bears, Brisker became a regular starter. But with his rookie contract up, Brisker wanted a chance at scenery, and picked his hometown.
"It's going to be amazing," Brisker told Steelers.com in March . "I love the fans. I love Terrible Towels. I love how passionate they are for the players, how they love Pittsburgh football just overall. And Renegade, the song you guys play. I love that. So, I can't wait to turn the fans up."
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker at practice on May 18, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
3 • Jaquan Brisker , Safety, Penn State
6-foot-1, 204 pounds, 27 years old, 5th pro season
Acquired: The Steelers signed Brisker to a one-year, $5.5 million deal over the offseason. He joined Penn Staters Joey Porter Jr., Pat Freiermuth and Daequan Hardy , who were already on the roster, and the Steelers later drafted former Penn State QB Drew Allar in the third round.
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Last year:Brisker started all 17 games for the first time last season, ending with 93 tackles (52 solo), a sack, an interception and eight pass breakups. After missing 12 games with a vestibular concussion in 2024, Brisker led the Chicago Bears defense by playing 99.91% of defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him a 60.4 overall defensive grade, which ranked 67th of 98 qualified safeties.
He had a better run defense grade of 73.7, which was 34th best at the position, and gave up a 118.1 passer rating when targeted (91.4 is the league average), per Pro Football Reference ).
Pro career:Brisker was a contributor for the Bears right away, starting 15 games as a rookie in 2022, missing the other two while in concussion protocol. His 104 tackles ranked third among rookies, and his four sacks led the Bears and tied for the most of any DB. Brisker also ended with five tackles for loss, an interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In 12 of Brisker's 15 starts, he played every snap, the most of any Bears defender.
The next season, Brisker also played in 15 games, missing two in concussion protocol. He led the Bears with 105 tackles, also ending the year with a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Brisker also defended nine passes, which led the Bears.
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He didn't get a fair chance to build in 2024, missing all but five games due to injury.
JAQUAN BRISKER NFL CAREER STATS
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) fires up the crowd after a penalty call against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field on Jan. 10, 2026. Matt Marton / Imagn ImagesCredit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
| Year |
Team |
GP |
GS |
Pos |
Tackles |
PD |
Y/T |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
CHI |
17 |
17 |
S |
93 |
8 |
8.9 |
60.4 |
| 2024 |
CHI |
5 |
5 |
S |
40 |
2 |
N/A |
65.3 |
| 2023 |
CHI |
15 |
15 |
S |
105 |
9 |
6.5 |
66.7 |
| 2022 |
CHI |
15 |
15 |
S |
104 |
2 |
6.7 |
67 |
JAQUAN BRISKER COLLEGE CAREER
Brisker started his college career at Lackawanna Community College, where he played the 2017 and '18 seasons. In 2018, he helped Lackawanna to an 11-0 record and No. 6 national ranking, earning first-team NJCAA All-America honors.
From there, Brisker transferred to Penn State. Brisker played in all 13 games of the 2019 season, ending the year with 32 tackles (15 solo), three pass breakups and two interceptions, which tied for the team lead.
Brisker was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2020, with Pro Football Focus naming him a first-team All-American. He made his first career start, ending the year with six pass breakups (first on the team), 57 tackles (third on the team), three tackles for loss, an interception and two quarterback hurries.
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The 2021 season was his best yet. Brisker was a consensus All-American, ending the year with 64 tackles (38 solo), 5.5. tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
JAQUAN BRISKER COLLEGE STATS
| Year |
Team |
GP |
GS |
Pos |
Tackles |
TFL |
PD |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
PSU |
12 |
12 |
S |
64 |
5.5 |
5 |
91.6 |
| 2020 |
PSU |
9 |
9 |
S |
57 |
3 |
6 |
82.4 |
| 2019 |
PSU |
13 |
0 |
S |
32 |
0 |
3 |
N/A |
| 2018 |
LACK |
10 |
10 |
S |
65 |
7 |
5 |
N/A |
JAQUAN BRISKER PRE-DRAFT TESTING
At the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis , Brisker ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds, the 10-yard split in 1.57 seconds and 20-yard split in 2.52 seconds. He had a vertical jump of 34.5 inches, a broad jump of 10'4″ and benched 22 reps of 225 pounds, which was second amongst safeties. His 3-cone drill took 6.91 seconds, and his 20-yard shuttle took 4.19.
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Brisker had an 9.13 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
ODDS AND ENDS
Brisker's grandfather, John Brisker, was a two-time American Basketball Association All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pipers/Condors in 1971 and 1972, then played for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics from 1972-1975.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers' Jaquan Brisker More Than Just a Good Story
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