Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
PITTSBURGH — Newly acquired Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jamel Dean has his eyes set on one thing — winning another Super Bowl. Dean won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, and he believes the Steelers give him the best chance to win another one.
“All we do is win here. I’m at the point of my career where I’m trying to chase another Super Bowl,” Dean said during his introductory press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday.
The Steelers are on a dreaded nine-year playoff win drought. They’ve lost their last seven playoff games. Players like T.J. Watt have never won a playoff game.
“It really comes to the little things. It’s really all about getting to the playoffs. Once you get into the playoffs, it’s a whole new season,” Dean said. “For the most part that’s the time we got to come together and work our fundamentals and do what we do best.”
Dean also said the energy from head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan felt genuine when they were recruiting him to Pittsburgh. It felt like home for him.
Dean allowed the fewest yards per target of any cornerback in coverage last season (4.7, min. 50 targets), according to Next Gen Stats. Dean also allowed the lowest passer rating (41.3) and the fewest target EPA (-30.1) among outside cornerbacks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) runs an intercepted back for a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Sep 21, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA. — Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Dean, who turns 30 in October, played for the Buccaneers for the past seven seasons, starting 77 games with them.
According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Dean’s deal is for three years and will pay him $36.75 million. He’s guaranteed $12 million through a signing bonus and will make $1.5 million during the first year of the pact. He’ll be paid $8 million during the second and $11.25 million throughout the third, along with a $4 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 league year.
The Steelers have put an emphasis on improving their secondary during free agency, as Mike McCarthy’s team also added safeties Darnell Savage and Jaquan Brisker and re-signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. Those guys will mix in with Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and DeShon Elliott.
According to Pro Football & Sports Network, Dean posted a 46.9 passer rating allowed last season, tops in the NFL. Now-former Steelers cornerback James Pierre — who’s heading to join the Minnesota Vikings — followed him with a 52.8 mark.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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