Pittsburgh, PA – July 11, 2025
The moment Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded, questions erupted across Steelers Nation: Who’s taking his place? The answer, according to one former NFL star, might already be on the roster — and he thinks it’s not just a replacement. It’s an upgrade.
Juan Thornhill, a name many overlooked when the headlines focused on Jalen Ramsey, is quietly stepping into the spotlight. And former NFL defensive back Will Blackmon thinks the move might just change Pittsburgh’s playoff fate.
"You lose Minkah, but you got a leader back there who knows exactly what to do, who knows exactly what it takes to win championships," Blackmon said on FS1’s The Facility. "I think wholeheartedly they got better. I got them actually winning a playoff game this year and ending that drought."
It’s a bold claim. But the résumé backs it up.
Thornhill has started 74 games in the NFL, won two Super Bowls as the Chiefs’ starting free safety, and earned a reputation as one of the most playoff-ready defensive backs in the league. His stint in Cleveland didn’t go as planned — a quiet 2023 campaign ended in a February release — but now? He’s in Pittsburgh. On a one-year, $3 million deal. And he’s got something to prove.
What makes this story classic Steelers isn’t the contract. It’s the mentality. No drama. No headline-grabbing quote. Just a veteran walking into the room, slipping on the black and gold, and going to work.
If the Steelers don’t bring in another safety, Juan Thornhill is next man up. And for fans still heartbroken over Fitzpatrick’s departure, this isn’t just damage control. It’s belief. In leadership. In experience. In a player who knows what it means to raise the Lombardi.
This might not be the replacement fans expected — but it could be the one they end up rallying behind.
Stay tuned to ESPN for more on the evolution of Pittsburgh’s new-look secondary.
