PITTSBURGH — Jaquan Brisker has a new team in the Pittsburgh Steelers , and versatility is a big reason why the Steelers liked him.
Although Brisker is a Pittsburgh guy who became an All-American at Penn State, his pro football home had always been Chicago .
The Bears drafted him in the second round back in 2022, and for his first four NFL seasons, Brisker played almost the same amount of snaps at free safety (1,270) as he did in the box (1,290), according to PFF .
Now, the expectation is for Brisker to spend most of his time at free safety, with DeShon Elliot starting on the strong side.
We're still almost two months out from training camp, so Brisker hasn't gotten to flex his muscles much with his new team. But so far, the return home has gone as hoped.
"Yeah, I am very excited," Brisker said after OTAs
Thursday. "I mean, we got a lot of different things, a lot of different personnel and things like that, and just not showing what we're going to do, Having a little disguise to it or sometimes we'll just be in it, but it's been giving us a lot of flexibility."
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker at practice on May 18, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Despite the free safety designation, Brisker still sees himself being able to display his versatility.
"I see myself playing everywhere in the secondary," he said, "and sometimes in the linebacker group."
At 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, Brisker has the size to hold his own on the second level. He's also quite fond of first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham 's scheme.
"I could keep moving around being versatile," Briske said, "you know, playing free blitzing. Playing man, dropping in the zone, you know, whatever. I love it about the defense. I love coach, he gets us the keys.
Blitzing is one of Brisker's biggest strengths.
Last season, he had 12 quarterback pressures per Pro Football Focus, which was the seventh most amongst safeties.
He struggled at times in coverage, particularly in zone, where he allowed an 80.6 completion percentage per PFF.
In man, he was much better, giving up a 45.5 competition rate.
Brisker was part of a Bears team that beat the Steelers last season, and now will be one of the defensive leaders.
Versatility is a big reason why.
"I showed my work ethic and how I work," he said. "You know, I come in here every single day, and you know, just you know how accountable I am to my teammates and just showing leadership very early. So, yeah, um you know, I'm definitely the type of guy. You know, I love my teammates and I'm definitely gonna push them,
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Versatility is the Key for New Steelers S Jaquan Brisker
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