PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – ‘I’m going to be a Steeler.’
It was a simple text sent by Jaquan Brisker to his family that sent a celebration in motion.
Growing up in Western Pennsylvania and graduating from Gateway High School, it was a dream that didn’t seem attainable. Even after making it from Lackawanna College to Penn State and eventually drafted by the Bears. It wasn’t imaginable he would one day sign a one-year, $5.5 million contract to play back home.
“Never thought I would be a Steeler, now that I’m here, I’m so blessed,” Brisker said Monday. “I just get chills, I’ll be a Pittsburgh Steeler and I’m from Pittsburgh.”
In fact, Brisker has never been to a Steelers game in Pittsburgh, the home opener will be his first time ever at a Steelers game in Acrisure Stadium and he’ll be wearing the black and gold uniform.
“I couldn’t afford to go to any games, to be honest,” Brisker said meeting with Pittsburgh reporters. “I watched everything from the TV.”
Brisker attended Ben Roethlisberger’s camps growing up, mentioning he won a couple of championships at the camp as a quarterback. He said he attended a Mike Tomlin’s camp and the former Steelers coach impacted him.
“Always wanted someone like that to come around because I never had a role model like that, an NFL player,” Brisker said.
His favorite Steelers were Antonio Brown and Troy Polamalu. Brisker remembers rushing Brown’s car as a kid and Brown took his phone and did a cheesy selfie. That was the closest he got to the NFL.
Now he is a Pittsburgh Steeler and his phone is being used to communicate his big news.
“My phone has been blowing up,” Brisker said. “My phone was at 90% and it died, that’s how many calls and texts I was getting.”
“The first person I called was my mom. ‘I’m about to be a Steeler’ and she was like ‘baby, are you sure’? I’m like yes. I’m about to be a Steeler and she said it was so exciting. Then I texted the family group chat ‘I’m a Steeler’ and everyone started going crazy.”
“It feels amazing, going through the tunnels, seeing the city, seeing that beautiful water. It feels amazing to be back.”
Brisker said he was hoping to play for Mike McCarthy while he was the head coach of the Cowboys, now both Yinzers make their Steelers debuts in September.
“Seeing the Terrible Towel waving around, hearing that Renegade song,” Brisker said. “It’s going to be so fun playing in front of the fans and turning them up. That’s all I want to do, that energy, that passion the city has around the football team, it’s like no other.”
“I can’t wait to play in front of them.”