It didn’t take long to hear from the newest Pittsburgh Steeler. Though the deal won’t become official until Wednesday, cornerback Patrick Peterson plans to sign with the black and gold.
Peterson has a regular podcast with former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden, All Things Covered, and explained what brought him to the Steelers.
“Me and my agent have been on the phone all day today,” Peterson said. “Trying to make sure the next spot for me will be a great fit for my skillset. And also to put me in position to continue to make plays and be around a great culture, a great locker room, a great environment. We’ve had some teams calling today, Minnesota was one of them. We just weren’t able to cross that line with them. Up until Wednesday, my plan is to make my talents to the Steel Curtain.”
Peterson is 32 years old but coming off a strong 2022 season in Minnesota after ranking as PFF’s 10th-best coverage corner. He told McFadden that while he may have lost a bit of speed, his knowledge of the game allows him to play faster than ever before.
Peterson recently told Adam Schefter he wanted to sign with a team who would give him the chance to win a Super Bowl. Pittsburgh isn’t considered a 2023 favorite, but Tomlin is better than just about any coach in football at selling the Steelers’ success and history.
“I grew up watching all the greats there. [McFadden] won two Super Bowls there. Obviously love Coach Tomlin and what he brings to the table. And just how consistent he is. How consistent the defense is. How consistent his team is year in and year out. They’re always in position to win ballgames. And that’s all you can ask for…of course, you always want to win a Super Bowl. That’s always far-fetched for 32 teams. If you have an opportunity to get to the playoffs, that’s where it all starts.”
He admitted that the deal came out of “left field” and didn’t expect to sign with the Steelers until his agent presented him with the opportunity.
“Always been a big fan of how Mike T teams were always prepared to play a football game. Even if they were outmatched on paper.”
Peterson will be a veteran presence in the Steelers’ locker room, though he told McFadden he’s someone who leads by example and is less of a “rah-rah” type of guy.
His signing will replace Cam Sutton, lost to Detroit on a three-year deal earlier in the day. While media outlets have reported a two-year deal for Peterson, he told McFadden those details are being “ironed out” and are not finalized.
“What better franchise would you want to end your career off in, especially when you have aspirations of being like all the greats that they’ve had. It’s an honor.”
