The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Mar. 14 the signing of cornerback Jamel Dean to a three-year contract.
Dean joins the Steelers after spending seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has played in 96 games, starting 77, and has accumulated 352 tackles, including 278 solo stops, along with 11 interceptions—two of which were returned for touchdowns. Dean also recorded 61 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one sack during his time with Tampa Bay.
In postseason play, Dean appeared in ten games and started nine. He made 49 tackles in those contests and contributed to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV victory. In the regular season last year, he led the Buccaneers with three interceptions—including one returned for a touchdown—and finished with 46 tackles and nine passes defensed. According to NextGen Stats, Dean allowed just 4.7 yards per target—the lowest among all cornerbacks in coverage in 2025—and held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of only 41.3 when targeted.
Dean’s career highlights include setting a single-season record for most combined tackles by a Buccaneers cornerback over two games in 2024 and tying for fourth in the NFL for passes defensed as a rookie in 2019. His college career at Auburn saw him appear in 26 games with notable defensive statistics.
The Steelers are recognized as a member franchise of the National Football League according to their official website. The team has achieved six Super Bowl championships throughout its history as reported by their official website and honors significant contributors such as Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene through its Hall of Honor according to their official website. The organization also engages fans through historical celebrations and experiences as outlined on their official website, including exhibits at the Hall of Honor Museum located at Acrisure Stadium according to their official website.
The addition of Dean brings further experience to a franchise that has earned recognition both on the field—with multiple Super Bowl wins—and off it through community engagement and honoring its legacy as per their official website.
