Jamel Dean flexed his coverage skills by picking off three passes last season, but the newly signed Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback also has some muscle to his game.
The 6-foot-1, 206-pound defensive back says he won’t shy away from a tackle.
“You play defense, so you’ve got to be able to cover and tackle at the same time,” said Dean, who was officially introduced by the Steelers on Friday. “Nowadays, the offense is going to have plays designed for you to tackle. So, if you don’t want to tackle, you’re going to have a long game.
“I’d rather set the tone early, like, ‘Hey, I’m willing to tackle.’ ”
After seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 29-year-old free agent brings his aggressiveness and a Super Bowl ring to Pittsburgh as the anticipated starter opposite Joey Porter Jr.
Dean is coming off a strong 2025 season that ranked third among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. His three interceptions marked a career high, and he added 46 tackles with 38 solo stops.
In talking with the Steelers coaches, Dean said his skills seemed to fit what the new staff was looking for. The team signed him to a three-year contract reportedly worth $36.75 million.
“For the most part, they’re just saying, ‘Hey, man, we like your game and you fit our scheme because you’re a physical corner that can cover and can tackle,’ ” Dean said.
His background as a Super Bowl champion probably helped, too. Dean was a starter in his second season when Tom Brady quarterbacked the Bucs to a title. He made 16 tackles in that postseason run to winning Super Bowl LV after the 2020 season.
Six years later, Dean said he hopes to get another shot by signing with the Steelers.
“I’m at a point of my career now where I’m trying to chase another Super Bowl,” Dean said. “With the personnel that we have here and the coaching staff, I feel like it’s possible we can get that done.”
He said he was hopeful quarterback Aaron Rodgers would decide to return for another season, but laughingly said that was in part because he needed an autograph. One of Dean’s career highlights was a pick-6 against the future hall of famer in 2020.
Dean has 11 career interceptions.
“I’ve been waiting, like, five years just to be able to ask him, ‘Hey, uh, you remember this ball?’ ” Dean said. “ ‘I’ve been meaning for you to sign this ball for so many years, and I think this is a good time to do it.’ ”
Dean joins a cornerback group that includes Porter, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols and potentially Jalen Ramsey, who shifted to safety last season to fill a need there.
As starting outside cornerbacks, Dean and Porter were two of the most effective a season ago, according to PFF stats.
Porter played 562 snaps in pass coverage, was targeted 60 times and allowed no touchdowns. Dean was nearly as efficient, allowing one touchdown while on 443 snaps and 54 targets.
Dean said playing across from Porter won’t change his approach.
“I’m going to just continue playing the style of football I’ve been playing since I’ve been in the league,” he said.
Still, Dean was quick to share the respect he holds for his new teammate.
“I don’t have to really say much about Joey because his play speaks for itself,” Dean said. “You’ve got that comfortability that he going to hold it down on his side. I’m going to hold it down on mine.”