Exit Meeting: S Chuck Clark
Experience: 9 Years
The Steelers signed Chuck Clark during training camp last July to add veteran depth. While he stuck around all season, they appear ready to move on from him. Pittsburgh had three safeties hit free agency and shown no indication of bringing any back. In fact, the Steelers have already signed two in free agency from the outside.
A former sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, Chuck Clark became a full-time starter in his third season. He was a glue guy there, but eventually, the team moved in another direction. The Ravens traded him to the Jets in 2023, but he subsequently suffered a season-ending injury. Regaining his footing in 2024, so to speak, he started all 12 games in which he played.
However, nobody came knocking for him last year until the Steeler signed him in late July. But Clark showed enough to make the 53-man roster, and he stuck around all season. Not only did he remain with the team, he managed to log 437 snaps. And to his credit, he did make a play here and there.
But the Steelers are certainly not going to rush a reunion with the soon-to-be 31-year-old safety with an injury history. They have, thus far, brought in Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage to fill the safety room. With DeShon Elliott and Jalen Ramsey, they have all they need. Joining Chuck Clark on the outside looking in is Jabrill Peppers, an in-season veteran pickup last year.
One thing in Chuck Clark’s favor is the fact that he returned to some old habits last season. Specifically, he showed a willingness to play on special teams for the sake of a job. No longer a starter, he played more special teams for the Steelers than he had since 2019, before he became a starter for the first time. In all, Clark logged 189 snaps on special teams last year, so if he ends up back in Pittsburgh, that is why.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves licking their wounds after yet another early playoff exit. This is a repeated pattern for the organization, but with major change coming. As the Steelers conduct their own exit meetings, we will go down the roster conducting our own. Who should stay, and who should go, and how? Who should expect a bigger role next season, and who might deserve a new contract? The resignation of Mike Tomlin makes those questions much more difficult to answer, but much more important. We’ll explore those questions and more in these articles, part of an annual series.