The Pittsburgh Steelers did a lot to address their secondary over the offseason. They could still make one more significant move before the season, though, for veteran Jordan Whitehead.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Steelers hosted two defensive backs for a visit Thursday. One of them was Whitehead, who attended Central Valley High School in Monaca, Pennsylvania, which is about 25 miles northwest of Acrisure Stadium.
Whitehead also starred at Pitt from 2015-17 and won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February 2021.
Over seven NFL seasons, Whitehead has started 101 games. Last season, he registered 79 combined tackles and three pass defenses during his second stint with the Buccaneers.
In addition to Whitehead, the Steelers also hosted defensive back Eric Scott for a visit Thursday.
Steelers Host Jordan Whitehead for Thursday Visit
GettyThe Pittsburgh Steelers hosted local product and defensive back Jordan Whitehead for a visit Thursday.
The Steelers made adding veteran experience to their secondary a priority this offseason. They signed cornerback Jamel Dean early in NFL free agency. The team then signed safeties Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage.
Adding Whitehead would give the Steelers another similarly experienced defensive back.
Whitehead has predominantly played safety in his NFL career. The Buccaneers drafted him at No. 117 overall during the fourth round in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Despite being a Day 3 selection, Whitehead started 11 games as a rookie. He started at least that many contests every year from 2018-24. Last year, he remained unsigned for the entire season.
During 2024, Whitehead posted a 58 PFF player grade. That was his lowest overall grade since 2019. But during that season, the veteran safety was still good in run defense.
With the Steelers this training camp, Whitehead could provide veteran experience at safety. Behind Brisker, Savage and DeShon Elliott, the Steelers have only inexperienced safeties in rookie Robert Spears-Jennings along with Jack Henderson and Sebastian Castro.
Interestingly, Whitehead was teammates with Dean in Tampa Bay from 2019-21 and in 2024. Whitehead is also cousins with Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis, who is also a Pittsburgh native and Pitt alum.
Steelers Also Visit With Defensive Back Eric Scott
GettyThe Dallas Cowboys selected defensive back Eric Scott in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
If the Steelers decide adding more NFL experience at safety isn’t a priority, the team could still add another safety in Scott.
The 27-year-old has yet to make his NFL debut. But he is younger than Whitehead and wasn’t completely out of the league last season.
Scott began his career as a Day 3 pick for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. After his second training camp in Dallas, the Cowboys waived Scott on roster cutdown day.
The Kansas City Chiefs claimed Scott off waivers. Scott never played for the Chiefs in the regular season, but he was on the practice squad when the team went to the Super Bowl in 2024-25.
Last season, Scott spent the campaign on injured reserve.
In college, Scott played three years at Southern Mississippi. As a senior in 2022, he registered 27 combined tackles and five pass defenses while returning two interceptions for touchdowns.
Steelers Eyeing Local Super Bowl Champion as Potential Defensive Boost