The Buffalo Bills found some short-term help for their secondary late last season, covering up for an unexpected setback by landing veteran Darnell Savage Jr. off waivers.
After filling in a key role for the Bills, Savage is now headed to a conference rival. The Steelers announced on Tuesday that they signed Savage to a one-year deal, adding a steady veteran to their secondary.
Darnell Savage Moving On From Buffalo
Savage joined the Bills off waivers late last season, filling in a hole that the team had unintentionally created in the secondary. The Bills initially signed veteran defensive back Darius Slay off waivers, but he refused to report to the team and later retired.
The Bills waived veteran cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to make room for Slay on the roster and intended to re-sign Ingram to their practice squad, but he was instead claimed by the Houston Texans and went on to play a significant role in their playoff run.
The moves left the Bills with a vacancy in their secondary, which they later filled by claiming Savage off waivers. He appeared in two games with one start, making two total tackles.
The Steelers noted in their announcement that Savage has plenty of experience across his NFL career, which started with the Green Bay Packers in 2019.
“Savage has appeared in 88 games, with 82 starts, in his first seven seasons in the NFL,” the Steelers noted. “He has spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2019-23), Jacksonville Jaguars (2024-25), Washington Commanders (2025) and Buffalo Bills (2025).
“Savage has 10 career interceptions, returned for 141 yards (14.1-yard average), including one for a touchdown. He also has 367 tackles, including 273 solo stops, 40 passes defensed, 11 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack.”
The Steelers are making an all-in move for a Super Bowl run, bringing back veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers for what he said will be his final season in the NFL.
Ex-Bills Safety Lands With Conference Rival in Offseason Move