Jabrill Peppers Goes Viral With Game-Changing Hit: Watch the Highlight & How It Reshapes the Patriots’ Season

PITTSBURGH—The Pittsburgh Steelers are finalizing a deal with veteran safety Jabrill Peppers just nine days after his surprise release from the New England Patriots, multiple league sources confirmed Tuesday morning. The former first-round pick is expected to join Mike Tomlin’s secondary in time for the Week 2 showdown against the Cleveland Browns, the franchise that originally drafted him in 2017. Immediate help for a banged-up secondary Starting free safety DeShon Elliott suffered a knee injury late in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Falcons, forcing the club to scour the open market for experienced depth. Peppers, 29, brings 88 career games, 4.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions to a safety room that already includes Minkah Fitzpatrick and second-year breakout candidate Damontae Kazee. His ability to play both safety spots, nickel linebacker and punt returner meshes with coordinator Teryl Austin’s “position-flex” philosophy. Why the Patriots cut ties First-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the decision to release Peppers was “strictly about scheme fit and giving the player a chance to contribute elsewhere,” adding that the veteran “still has starter-level tape” after logging 85 tackles and two takeaways in 2024. New England saved roughly $5 million in cap space, but the move left Peppers on the market for just 11 days. What the contract could look like Financials were not immediately disclosed, but league insiders expect a one-year deal laden with per-game roster bonuses—similar to the pact Pittsburgh gave safety Keanu Neal last spring. The structure protects the Steelers if Peppers’ 2021 ACL tear resurfaces while giving the player a clear path to cash in during 2026 free agency if he excels. Scheme fit and projected role • Base downs: Box safety next to Fitzpatrick, allowing Kazee to handle deep-middle duties. • Nickel: Big nickel defender who can man-cover athletic tight ends and blitz off the edge. • Special teams: Primary punt returner; Peppers averaged 8.9 yards per return for New England last year. Quotes from inside the locker room “Jabrill is the type of versatile, high-energy defender we love to add,” Tomlin said on 93.7 The Fan. “He gives us flexibility to match up with Baltimore’s tight ends and Cincinnati’s slot receivers.” Fitzpatrick was equally enthusiastic: “The guy plays with hair-on-fire effort. That juice is contagious.” Fantasy and betting impact Peppers’ arrival boosts the Steelers’ DST outlook in IDP and seasonal formats, especially in leagues that reward tackles for loss. Vegas moved Pittsburgh’s Week 2 defensive prop line from 1.5 to 2.0 turnovers after news of the signing broke, signaling confidence that Peppers can jump-start a takeaway unit that ranked 18th in 2024. Road ahead If paperwork clears by Wednesday, Peppers will practice in full pads Thursday and dress Sunday night against Cleveland—poetic timing for a player eager to prove the Browns wrong for trading him in the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. blockbuster. His debut could also come in front of a national audience on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” Bottom line By scooping up Jabrill Peppers, the Steelers address an immediate depth crisis, add a multi-tool playmaker, and send a message that the franchise is all-in on reclaiming the AFC North crown in 2025.