Offseason acquisition Brandin Echols makes big plays in win for Steelers

Of all the big-name new veteran acquisitions the Pittsburgh Steelers made for their secondary over the past 6 1/2 months, Brandin Echols coming aboard perhaps had been forgotten about.

Until this past Sunday, that is, when Echols not only played a significant role but made a play that effectively ended each half — and prevented potential New England points — during a Steelers win against the Patriots.

Brandin Echols catches passes in the end zone. He’s not on offense either. pic.twitter.com/YyR66gbqHN

— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) September 21, 2025

Echols intercepted Drake Maye in the end zone with 12 seconds left in the second quarter, then tackled receiver DeMario Douglas short of the sticks on fourth-and-1 from the Steelers’ 27-yard line with 1 minute, 7 seconds to play in a one-possession game.

Demario Douglas was this close to a first down ????

He could have fallen forward. He probably wants this one back.

???? Z-hook concept
???? #2 WR runs a flat
???? sit option on trap coverage pic.twitter.com/y9C2AGcMaW

— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) September 22, 2025

“It’s a good thing,” Echols said of making big plays for his new team, “because I got to show them what I’m able to do. Especially in the new defense and new environment, show them that I’m still capable of doing the same things that I was able to do with the Jets.”

Brought in on a two-year, $6 million contract after four seasons with New York, Echols’ signing was dwarfed at around the same time when the Steelers signed fellow cornerback Darius Slay — a reigning Super Bowl winner.

The Steelers’ signing of safety Juan Thornhill and even the drafting of cornerback Donte Kent might have moved the needle more for changes at defensive back. Certainly, the late-June trade for Jalen Ramsey did. And even the late-summer additions of veteran safeties Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers.

Yet — in part because of a spate of injuries to Steelers defensive backs — Echols was on the field for a whopping 67 snaps (including 62 on defense, or 84% of the team total) during the win at New England.

Most of Echols’ playing time this season has come as an outside cornerback. That’s in contrast to, for example, the preseason when Echols was mostly lining up inside. Slot/nickel is also where Echols was most often deployed by the Jets in 2022 and 2023 (as a rookie in 2021 and last season, though, he more often played outside corner for the Jets).

“I just want to be plug-and-play; wherever they need me, I am going to be there,” Echols said. “I always make sure I will be available for whatever the team asks me to do.

“(Versatility) is something I have developed. I am used to doing whatever the team has asked me to do.”

With starting outside corner Joey Porter Jr. maybe returning this week from a 2 1/2-game absence (hamstring injury), Echols might see snaps at the nickel and/or see his overall usage drop.

Wherever and however much Echols plays in Week 4, it’ll be done on international soil. Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings — who have one of the best wide receivers corps in the NFL — is set for Dublin. In 2021 and last season as a member of the Jets, Echols played games in London.

On such trips, Echols keeps it straight business. He doesn’t sound as if he’s a fan of international travel.

“I’m just keeping it all to ball, to be honest,” Echols said. “I’m kind of scared when I go to other countries, just because of past stories with other sports and people.”