RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 12: Brandin Echols #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Asante Samuel Jr. #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate after an interception in the third quarter of an NFL wild card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that he believes cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. can become an important part of the team’s defense, offering one of his strongest endorsements yet for the talented defensive back.
Speaking about Samuel’s outlook, McCarthy expressed confidence in both the player’s ability and his fit within Pittsburgh’s defensive plans.
“I know personally, I’m counting on him,” McCarthy said . “He’s frankly been one of my favorite players since I’ve arrived here.”
Those comments suggest McCarthy envisions a meaningful role for Samuel rather than simply adding depth to the secondary. After entering training camp with questions surrounding the cornerback rotation, Samuel appears to have earned the trust of the Steelers’ coaching staff through his work and versatility.
The former second-round pick has been putting his talent on display through the first week of training camp, totaling three pass breakups during team drills while playing a starting role alongside Jamel Dean with both Joey Porter and Jalen Ramsey not practicing.
With McCarthy publicly stating that he’s counting on Samuel, expectations are growing that the veteran defensive back will play a significant role when the Steelers open the regular season.
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