Four Interesting Nuggets From The Steelers’ Jamel Dean News Conference
March 15th, 2026
Jamel Dean is always smiling. So it’s understandable that the former Bucs cornerback looked to be a very happy man with his new three-year, $36 million contract.
Dean had plenty to say during his press event with Steelers media last week.
Joe shared one nugget, but there were more of interest.
*It was no surprise the Bucs let Dean walk in free agency, Dean said. In fact, he knew he was gone last summer when the Bucs squeezed him into a large paycut. “Before the season started, we came to an agreement so I was always aware that we were going to go our separate ways,” Dean said, adding that he’s ok with it because he looks forward to growing as a person through a new experience.
**The Bucs had joint practices in Pittsburgh last season with the Steelers. Dean’s opinion of a Mike Tomlin-led session intrigued Joe. “Everything was like on the move. Like we’re going to take advantage of every time we have on the football field. And there’s no walking. So everything was just fast-paced, but it was quality reps. So I was just like, ok, I could adapt to this.” To be fair, Joe must clarify that Tomlin, who resigned after last season, coordinated the joint practice plan with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles.
***See the photo above. That’s Dean picking off Aaron Rodgers during a big Bucs home win against the Packers in 2020. Dean said he eagerly looks forward to Rodgers returning as Steelers quarterback in 2026, so Dean can finally get Rodgers to sign that football he’s been treasuring for years.
****New Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is not a guy Dean used to like. Dean relayed a story of how Graham, then with the Dolphins, grilled him in pre-draft process seven years ago and pressed Dean on why he was a lazy player in college. Dean said Graham was way over-the-top but Dean called himself a very calm guy by nature and didn’t show his frustration. It looks like Dean got the last laugh.
Very interesting that the Bucs squeezed Dean into a huge paycut and simultaneously told him it was his last Tampa Bay season. That takes a lot of trust in a player’s professionalism to keep him on the roster in that situation.
Joe wasn’t a huge fan of Dean the player, but Joe was a fan of Dean the person. Smart and driven guy. In fact, Dean is the founder and CEO of a successful trucking company in central Florida. That’s right, several trucks on the road are with Dean managing the contracts and the drivers.
Joe wishes Dean well.
Ira Kaufman Talks New Signings, Maxx Crosby, Reaction To Mike Evans’ Comments To San Francisco Media, And Much More
March 15th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Dean gets the last laugh on Bright Licht as well. Licht had just inexplicably topped off Zyon early…a streaky player prone to boredom. Licht flexed…and is now poked in the belly like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Lucky for him, his job security is ironclad.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Another guy who seems to play harder in a contract year and is ok being “injured” or playing to less than full potential every snap. We need guys who love the game and cherish every snap like it’s their last. Nonstop motor for the love of the game.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
And is a scout or anyone said “the player was lazy” in college or questioned his want-to, they should be off our draft board. Talent only get you so far, which ain’t far enough.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I am happy with all the Bucs’ decisions in free agency but they need one splash move. I would get Maxx Crosby even for two first rounders then draft linebackers and cornerbacks.
March 15th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Great defender when on the field. Nail in the coffin for me were the 23 and 24 seasons. I felt the same about White. In 23 he injured his back because of overuse, it was that point I realized this guy wasn’t work horse. Good ‘move on ‘ from Licht, we got good value last year from them both
March 15th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Top 5 cb.. it will suck not having him on the team. We always let the good CBs get away… Dean was the one we kept around until now they chose Mccollom over him. Smfh.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Both sides moving on. Away we go. Next.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
The Steelers gave Jamel Dean a 3 years $36.75 contract
With only 12 million guaranteed, less than 1/3 in guarantee money
.Omar Khan isn’t completely dumb
It’s a Team Friendly deal
March 15th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
It was crazy that few a few weeks ago, Dean was the only Bucs player at Jr Bucs movie night. He was there to take pictures with Bucs fans for a couple of hours before the movie started. He was smiling the whole time then as well. It just struck me very weird that a guy that was about to sign somewhere else representing the Bucs at that event.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
We got Bored Zyon McCollum and Benjamin “Lost in Space” Morrison to be confused by Todd, we didn’t need Dean. Let’s go, let’s see if the Bucs can give up a 3rd and 42 conversion this season.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Last year when Dean took the big pay cut in exchange for voiding the 2026 season on in his contract was a clear signal Dean and Bucs were going to part ways. As a player, Dean was OK. Flashed some plays, generally played all right, blew a coverage from time to time. IDK if Bowles scheme was right for him, and there was often miss-communication by the defense that left Dean exposed. TBH, I think letting the DC go rather than Dean would be a bigger improvement, but it did save a little cap space.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
I wonder how he finds time to run a trucking company.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Dean cost the Bucs a lot in time off for injuries, lazy play, indifference in tackling, money. Nice guy who started a trucking business? Fine. The Bucs need players who have dedication to playing football.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Dean’s success on the field was never in question. It was his absence on the field due to injuries every year. Ironically, Dean was pretty much injury free last year. Past years have indicated he will miss time on the field.
Aging players seldom improve in their 30’s. Wish him and the Steelers well except when he is playing the Bucs.
Past performance will likely repeat itself for him. Anyway. it’s not the Bucs problem anymore.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Good player. Just couldn’t stay healthy and be on the field enough to justify a starters salary.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
“Very interesting that the Bucs squeezed Dean into a huge paycut and simultaneously told him it was his last Tampa Bay season. That takes a lot of trust in a player’s professionalism to keep him on the roster in that situation.“
What sucks the most about this, even with Dean gone is that the restructure blew our chances at getting a comp pick for Dean.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Dean is soft.
March 15th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Glazers always squeeze the pennies
March 15th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
More low IQ morons with very low IQ opinions, again, have no idea what they’re watching.
Dean is a really good man-to-man corner – ran out of town because Bowles insists on playing his garbage zone defense. The same thing happened with Carlton Davis – and the same morons now saying Dean is always injured, soft, not good, those morons were all celebrating getting a 3rd rounder from Detroit like the Bucs won the lottery. Meanwhile Davis continues to be one of the best corners in the NFL and was starting in the SB.
Dean is not as good as Davis – but over the last couple of years, the Bucs have lost two extremely good man-to-man corners and it’s 100% scheme related.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
“ Dean is not as good as Davis – but over the last couple of years, the Bucs have lost two extremely good man-to-man corners and it’s 100% scheme related.”
Spot on.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Joe spoke with him at length about it. You can do it all from your laptop. He doesn’t do the driving, he just takes bids on the freight and hires the drivers. All done online. GPS tracks the trucks.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
The photo above is against the Packers not the Steelers…..
March 15th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Are we really surprised he is gone? Every time I read the injury report it seemed like he was on it for some reason. This is addition by subtraction in my view. Nice guy, good player, but very injury prone. Not worth the value of the deal the Bucs gave him at the time. He should have been on the field more to receive the money he got from this franchise. I thought is was a bad decision at the time and here we are.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
My bad Joe, you are correct about the photo…
March 15th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Bowles will probably run Josh Hayes out there as a starter.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
It comes across in this report as if the Bucs told Dean he was done with the team. If that is actually the case, then that was dumb, but then the whole deal was dumb.
Deans injury history made a renegotiation appropriate. But, the deal should have included incentives that would have rewarded Dean for his 2025 production and kept the door open for the future.
The White situation was also handled poorly.
In Dean’s case, I wonder if this is a reflection of what they lost in the front office when Spytek left, or is it a reflection of Bowles’s fixation on turnovers.
White’s case I just do not understand at all.
The Bucs seem to have done a decent job of bringing in free agent value, but they let some value leave on the cheap.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Good for Dean. I wish him the best.
I’m with Munch.
Defensely 2026 will be RINSE AND REPEAT
SMH
March 15th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
@ Larrd Says: “I am happy with all the Bucs’ decisions in free agency but they need one splash move. I would get Maxx Crosby even for two first rounders.”
Ignorant. On just SO MANY levels. That is not even accounting for the injury concerns. And, it is DELUSIONAL to think that THIS team under THIS regime is even somewhat of a Contender. Even, WITH Crosby. Then, to completely blow-off, and not even take into effect the fact, that the 2027 Draft-Class is an “All-Time” LOADED CLASS. And, there being a really ‘high’ chance of it being a Top-10 PICK. Potentially, a TOP-5 even, by the time they move all assets at the trade deadline. You’re just going to give THAT UP… FOR NOTHING. For an aging, beat up, AND EXPENSIVE player, who couldn’t pass a PHYSICAL!? Really!? Immediately, END all chances of a ‘franchise QB’ such as Arch Manning, Moore, Sayin, or a couple others!? Or, how bout having a ZERO CHANCE at Jeremiah Smith, OR Cam Coleman!? How bout the YOUNG STUD EDGES, such as LJ McCray, Dylan Stewart from South Carolina, Kenyatta Jackson, or Simmons outta Texas!? YOU are willing to throw that away, FOR WHAT!? So, that Tom Brady, Mendoza, and the Raiders can draft JEREMIAH Freaking SMITH with what should’ve been OUR PICK!? This draft is soooo LOADED, you’re going to be able to grab 1ST-ROUND Talents in the back half of the 2ND-ROUND, who would be 1st-Round Picks in a ‘normal’ typical draft. 1st-Round “TALENTS,” you’ll be able to find in the 3RD, it is soooo DEEP. But, not only that… YOU blow-up our salary cap (and no first round pick), and by doing so, make THIS JOB farrrr less ‘attractive’ to ANY top-tier level, high-end, modern-day HC and GM. I mean, you can forget that… And trust-me, we are going to need all the help WE CAN GET.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Another genius move by our GM. I thought he liked draft picks. I guess it’s better to get nothing for your vets.
March 15th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Cornerback is our greatest need going into the draft
Even a greater need than Edge Rusher
Free Agency wasn’t a strength for Corners
But going into the draft, l believe Corners will be a top priority
We have Morrison and Zyon outside, Parrish the Slot
Other than those 3, we don’t have much else
Josh Hayes might not make the roster this season
We need another Slot CB, and 2 more Outside Corners
March 15th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Was time to move on. Rebuilding the defense!
That said…Mike Tomlin for coach in 2027. The only Defense head coach I like.