A horde of media quickly engulfed the locker of Steelers defensive back Jaquan Brisker following Pittsburgh's Week 8 win over the Browns. The media was hoping to get Brisker's response to Browns pass rusher Jared Verse's comments leading up to the game, and Brisker obliged in spades. Just a few feet away, Jalen Ramsey — one of the NFL's most well-known and accomplished players — quietly went about his business at his locker.
It felt like a good time to ask the eight-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro defensive back about the current state of the Steelers, who enter their Week 9 bye at 6-2 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Ramsey, who turned 32 on Oct. 29, is in the middle of his 11th NFL season and his second season with the Steelers, who acquired him via a trade with the Dolphins in June 2025. During his first nine seasons in the NFL, Ramsey established himself as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks.
In 2021, he won a Super Bowl while being a valued member of the Los Angeles Rams. In his first season with the Steelers, Ramsey was named to his eighth Pro Bowl after filling the stat sheet with 88 tackles, 3.0 sacks, an interception and eight passes defensed while helping Pittsburgh win its first division title since 2020. This season, despite dealing with a broken wrist, Ramsey has continued to play at a high level.
His signature play through the season's first eight weeks was his sack on the final play of overtime that sealed Pittsburgh's win in Tampa in Week 6. I asked Ramsey about the wrist injury, his one-plus seasons with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh's ascending defense (the Steelers haven't given up a touchdown in seven quarters) and its potential as a championship-caliber unit. I'm sure you're used to playing through injuries at this stage of your career, but a broken wrist is a broken wrist.
How are you still able to be such a physical and tenacious player with an injury of that magnitude? "God, and a couple pain meds (laughs) and just clearing my mind and going to do it." What still motivates you? I mean, you're a Hall of Famer.
What keeps you so passionate and so willing and wanting to play through injuries? And to continue with the tenacity you play with? "I just think that God has blessed me with a gift and to play football.
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