The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran safety Darnell Savage, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Savage, who turns 29 in July, provides key safety depth Pittsburgh is lacking.
Contract terms weren’t immediately disclosed, but the deal is likely to be short-term and cheap.
A 2019 first round pick of the Green Bay Packers, missing Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham by one season, Savage has appeared in 97 games with 83 starts. He’s recorded 371 career tackles (11 for a loss) with 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one sack.
He started his first five NFL seasons and has bounced around since. In 2025, he played for three teams: the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Combined, he appeared in 12 games and logged 266 defensive snaps. Savage tallied 18 tackles and one forced fumble.
His most recent role as a full-time starter came in 2024, logging 13 of them for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded 53 tackles and one interception.
Savage will provide depth behind starters Jalen Ramsey and DeShon Elliott. Versatile, he’s able to play either safety spot. Pittsburgh has four pending free agent safeties in Kyle Dugger, Chuck Clark, Miles Killebrew, and Jabrill Peppers. So far, they haven’t signed any of them back. Three of the four names, all but Killebrew, were assembled during various points of the 2025 season, and neither were strong fits as an immediate backup.
Ramsey himself has some uncertainty over his position, nickel corner or free safety, while Elliott is coming off a season-ending knee injury.
Pittsburgh hosted Savage on a pre-draft visit ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft. Though decision-makers GM Kevin Colbert and HC Mike Tomlin are no longer with the organization, perhaps that interest played a role in bringing Savage to Pittsburgh seven years later.
Savage seems to be the Steelers’ new No. 3 safety, though the team is likely to add a Day One or Day Two pick in the draft. The 2026 safety class is one of the strongest in years.
