The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signing of veteran safety Darnell Savage Jr. — even though they agreed on a one-year contract months ago. At long last, the lengthy waiting game is over for the ex-Green Bay Packer.
An unspecified medical issue reportedly delayed Savage and the Steelers, yet their deal now becomes official. There interestingly appeared to be a mutual understanding of sorts that the two sides would come to terms in due course, assuming improved health.
Nevertheless, the prolonged holdup rightfully had folks wondering whether Savage's time with Pittsburgh was over before it began. Not only that, but he could've flamed out of the NFL entirely if the injury concerns persisted, considering his career is already on life support.
Ex-Packers S Darnell Savage Jr. finally gets new lease on NFL career with Steelers after long wait
Savage hasn't lived up to the lofty expectations that came with the Packers selecting him No. 21 overall in the 2019 draft. The Maryland product had some bright moments in Titletown before fizzling out and leaving for greener (literally) pastures. He's since turned into a journeyman, with Pittsburgh being the latest stop.
After falling out of favor in Green Bay, Savage inked a three-year, $21.75 million pact with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2024. He was released roughly 18 months later before short-lived stints with the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. While his regression has been sharp, Pittsburgh ostensibly believes another change of scenery might do the trick.
How Savage fits into a revamped Steelers secondary remains to be seen. It's hard to envision him assuming a significant role, especially considering the circumstances under which he joined the club so late in the offseason. They likely view him as a depth piece behind their safety tandem of Jaquan Brisker and DeShon Elliott.
Across 12 games with three franchises in 2025, Savage recorded 18 tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble. Moreover, his 131.7 passer rating against was the 17th-highest among 132 safeties with at least 50 coverage snaps, per Pro Football Focus ($). He went from being a near-every-down contributor to a rotational/special teams option.
Turning 29 in July, Savage isn't a lock for a roster spot at this point; he'll have to earn his keep. The defensive back probably faces an uphill battle to crack Pittsburgh's 53-man squad, too.
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