Sometimes, it’s not about the talent. Sometimes, it’s not about the coaching. Sometimes, it’s about the culture—the standard you set, the values you keep, what you emphasize and prioritize. You get out what you put in. For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, that’s a focus on turnovers. It’s no secret why they’re one of the biggest splash-play teams in the NFL.
Acquired this March, CB Donte Jackson is feeling what it’s like to play for a defense that focuses on it.
“It’s literally the standard,” Jackson told reporters Wednesday via the team website. “We work it every day. We talk about it every day, and we congratulate it every day. We don’t go through a practice without a guy getting a turnover, and he’s not getting congratulated, he’s not getting padded up, he’s not getting shown on a big screen in front of everybody…I’m honored to be a part of it, and I’m honored to be able to take some away myself.”
Jackson is tied for the team lead through eight games with three interceptions. He picked off a pass in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, had an end zone pick versus the Dallas Cowboys, and took advantage of a poor throw against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jackson has also shown an ability to run these picks back for key hidden yardage, with 75 yards of those picks being first on the team and second in the NFL. He only trails Denver CB Patrick Surtain, who had a 100-yard pick-six earlier this year.
Steelers’ DC Teryl Austin has been a big reason for the change. Hired in 2019 as the team’s secondary coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2022, he places a heavy emphasis on turnovers. That’s not just in words and goals but in how the team practices, turnover circuit drills during individual periods that highlight taking the ball away. That’s something we’ve noted over the years.
And those who make plays get rewarded with a T-shirt that goes up different levels the more plays you make.
“When you get one, it’s gold. But when you get a few like me, it’s black now. Me and T.J. got the black shirts now. I think Beanie’s gonna get him a black shirt, too. It’s a culture, man. They make it fun around here to want to go get the ball. It’s cool to see guys just making routine tackles, still trying to punch at the ball.”
Elite players like T.J. Watt always focus on the details. Not just going for the tackle, but the punch out on a third-and-long RB draw when a wrap-up stop would suffice. If Watt’s doing it, everyone else follows suit.
In 2024, Pittsburgh is tied for second with 15 takeaways, only behind the Green Bay Packers’ 19. Since 2019, no one has had more takeaways than the Steelers’ 152, and as we’ve noted, their ability to force turnovers in the red zone has been critical. It’s why the defense punches above its weight, routinely finishing with a better ranking in points allowed than yards allowed. The year before Austin’s arrival, Pittsburgh was the opposite, ranking sixth in yards but 16th in points allowed in 2018.
Jackson says the entire team gets involved in the celebration.
“When [Jeremiah Moon] blocked the punt, man, the whole defense, whole offense, everybody was just on him.”
Miles Killebrew mobbed him in the end zone. Mike Tomlin gave him a big high-five. And the first player that the camera cut to after the play was a fired-up Jackson along the Steelers’ sideline.
It’s those moments that separate talented teams from good teams. In Pittsburgh, teammates are fired up for teammates. In New York, they’re not celebrating big plays made by others. One is 6-2, the other 2-6.
In the end, football is fun. It’s a game they’ve been playing since Peewee. As serious as the job and what’s on the line is, levity goes a long way over the course of a season.
“They make it fun,” Jackson said. “Different color shirts, and you’re getting put up on a Jumbotron at the end of the week. Just getting all this love for practice takeaways. So it kind of makes it more real when you go in the game, and you get it, and now you see everybody celebrating.”
