The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 17 with a chance to clinch the AFC North, whether it be due to a loss by the Baltimore Ravens to the Green Bay Packers or a win on the road against the Cleveland Browns. However, just like what most teams are dealing with by this time of year in the NFL, the Steelers enter with a banged up secondary. The Steelers signed veteran cornerback Tre Flowers on Thursday to help out with their injured secondary. Cornerbacks Brandin Echols and James Pierre are officially listed as out for the Steelers in Week 17, so Flowers will provide some needed help.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. and James Pierre celebrate after a big time turnover during the 2025 NFL season.
Flowers actually received a call on Christmas Eve, admittedly while wrapping Christmas gifts, that the Steelers wanted him. Flowers has spent parts of eight seasons in the NFL, with five different teams. Signing now with the Steelers, this will be Flowers’ sixth team.
In those eight years, Flowers has played in 95 games with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and Seattle Seahawks. He has 287 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks, five forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in that span.
Flowers met with the media on Friday ahead of their Week 17 game against the Browns. While the Steelers have been stuck in a playoff drought, Flowers offered his thoughts on the current status of the 2025 Steelers. During his interview on Friday, he was asked about his opportunity to come to Pittsburgh this late in the season. Flowers delivered on his response, and where he currently sees the Steelers as they look to head to the playoffs.
“Best situation you could be in,” Flowers said. “Just like I said, I want to help a team win, help a team get to the Super Bowl again. and that’s my goal.”
While most would be happy with a playoff win or two, it is clear the veteran Flowers has other plans. Flowers was a fifth-round pick by the Seahawks out of Oklahoma State University. At 30 years old, Flowers should fit in well with a team that signed several veterans in the 2025 offseason and even throughout the campaign as it has been forced to deal with injuries.
Genna Martin / seattlepi.com
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the first half of Seattle’s game against San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 at CenturyLink Field.
Steelers Eyeing Playoff Success For The First Time In A Long Time
It has been since January of 2017 when the Steelers last won a playoff game. The fan base surely has grown frustrated over that time, while still staying loyal, but Flowers’ comments should be refreshing to hear. The Steelers are not only looking to win a playoff game, but instead make a deep run into the postseason. The Steelers also have improved on both sides of the ball.
It was noted recently that Steelers linebacker and leader of the defense, Patrick Queen, had a conversation with Head Coach Mike Tomlin that has helped them slowly improve that unit by Queen finding his voice to state concerns while also keeping his cool. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has orchestrated an improved offense, especially during the Steelers’ three-game winning streak. The Steelers offense has averaged 28 points per game in that stretch.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz during Pittsburgh’s 24-21 win at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
The Steelers have looked like a playoff team during that stretch, especially after their win on the road in Week 16 at the Detroit Lions. Pittsburgh entered that game as a touchdown underdog, but ultimately pulled off the upset: 29-24. The Steelers have relied on defense to essentially dominate and win them games over the past several years, while playing a more conservative style of offense.
However, the Steelers have been a more fluent offense under Rodgers, who has put up better numbers than any of his counterpart signal callers in the AFC North. This could be part of what the newly-signed Flowers sees in the Steelers when he mentions them chasing not just a playoff win, but a Super Bowl. The improved defense of late could also be part of what Flowers’ aspirations of a Super Bowl are related to.
Do you think the newly-signed Flowers has unrealistic expectations after his comments to the media lately or does he have a good point? Let us know in the comments below!