Playing for Browns’ rival a possible perfect career revival for Steelers S Juan Thornhill

When Juan Thornhill arrived in Cleveland two years ago, he’d established a reputation as a reliable, gregarious, playmaking safety who’d long been a starter for the NFL’s best team.

Thornhill left Cleveland an oft-injured player bereft of stats, a lightning rod for fans and cast aside unceremoniously.

Thornhill wouldn’t be the first player to see a promising career die with the Browns. But a personal revival with their biggest rival might just make his seventh pro season all the more sweet.

“I ain’t got no issues with Cleveland,” Thornhill said while taking part in his first minicamp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Thornhill then smiled.

“But they’ve definitely got to see me two times a year. So, I’m excited about that opportunity, for sure.”

A two-time Super Bowl champion over four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Thornhill joined the Steelers via a one-year, $3 million contract in March to replace Damontae Kazee in the secondary.

Purportedly the new No. 3 safety for the Steelers, Thornhill will complement perennial All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick and last year’s quality signing, DeShon Elliott, in the Steelers’ safeties corps.

“He’s fitting in great, like a shoe,” Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said.

“He’s been one of those guys who came in and knew how to jell with the team. We’re really just happy to have him on the squad and bring his presence on the field. It was a good pickup.”

Observers up the Turnpike to the northwest weren’t as enthused with Thornhill by the time he left. Some media outlets began referring to him as “Jog Thornhill” after it appeared he was running at less than full speed to catch Marquez Valdes-Scantling during a 71-yard touchdown that propelled the New Orleans Saints to a November victory.

Thornhill acknowledged that the nickname and the criticism bothered him.

“Because that’s not me as a player,” he said. “They saw that one clip of me, and they kind of put that title on me as a player that doesn’t play hard for his team. But it was one clip. I was exhausted. Players get tired. If you play a long series and you’re constantly running all the time, you’re going to get tired. And it got caught on camera, and it looked like I was jogging. I wasn’t trying to jog. I was trying to run.”

An isolated play or not, the incident became the perfect storm for a perpetually frustrated fan base dealing with another lost season (the Browns went 3-14) during which Thornhill — who was in the middle of a thee-year, $21 million contract — had no interceptions, sacks or forced fumbles or recoveries.

After having eight interceptions (one for a touchdown), 20 passes defensed, a sack and five tackles for loss during his Kansas City career, Thornhill’s stat line in two seasons with the Browns was limited to four passes defended and one TFL.

MVS! 71 YARDS TO. THE. CRIB.

???? FOX pic.twitter.com/Xf8Sl9id0R

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 17, 2024

Thornhill also missed 12 games over his two seasons with Cleveland after missing only one regular-season game because of injury over four years with the Chiefs.

“You never want to be injured,” Thornhill said, “(but) sometimes you have to play through those injuries, and injuries can slow you down. A lot of guys, they saw I was playing a little bit slower. But … I’m just a competitor, a true competitor that’s always wanting to be on the field whether he’s injured or not. I was always on the field injured — and (Cleveland) hated it, if I’m being honest with you.”

Thornhill did miss the Chiefs’ run to the Super Bowl in early 2020 after suffering a torn ACL in the regular-season finale of his 2019 rookie season. But he rehabbed that offseason to the point he did not miss a game the following season.

Thornhill (6-foot, 205 pounds) was plagued by calf injuries with the Browns, limiting his availability and effectiveness. Can he regain his NFL all-rookie team form with the Steelers? Even if Thornhill stays healthy, that’s no guarantee — not for a player who will turn 30 before the Steelers’ seventh game of the upcoming season.

Though the majority of Thornhill’s career snaps have come as a free safety, he has played extensively as an in-the-box safety, hybrid linebacker and slot/nickel cornerback. The Steelers likely intend to deploy him mostly at strong safety but ideally will move him around to help free up Fitzpatrick and other players for varied roles.

For his part, Thornhill says he’s capable of any aspect of the job description — coverage of receivers or tight ends, blitzing and tackling in the run game.

“If you go watch the film, I make a lot of plays,” he said. “A lot of great plays. I communicate a lot.

“I’m not worried about (criticism). I’m always going to play hard. I do whatever’s best for the team.”