LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – You couldn’t miss them if you were at Chuck Noll Field at St. Vincent College on Saturday. It was a segment of the stands mostly all wearing black and gold jerseys with the number ‘3’ on them.
“That’s all family,” said Steelers first-year safety Jaquan Brisker. “They came and saw me today. They had their own section. It was a blessing for them to all come out here. The support and love that I got, everybody got their ‘3’ jersey on, that’s amazing.”
Brisker said when he signed with his hometown team, having a moment like that wasn’t a priority for him, not that it was any less amazing.
His uncle organized the Brisker Family Day, if you will, at training camp with help from the Steelers organization setting aside an area for roughly 150 members of his family.
While the family was noticeable, so was the Gateway graduate on the field. His enthusiasm, not just in front of his family, but every day, is usually next level.
“Got to bring the energy, I love it,” Brisker said. “I’m blessed. I’ve been loving it since I was four. Being a Pittsburgh guy that’s all I breathe is football. Just come out here and turn my teammates up.”
Entering his fifth year in the NFL out of Penn State, when healthy, Brisker has been a difference maker. In his rookie season with the Bears he had 104 tackles (73 solo) and followed that up with 105 tackles the next season. He played only five games in 2024 and didn’t have the same effectiveness last season with Chicago and was left to be a free agent after his rookie contract expired.
The 27-year-old signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract because he believed in what the Steelers were doing, his fit and then likely what that could mean for him next offseason.
“I love the defense, he’s so smart,” Brisker said of Steelers first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. “It’s a great coaching staff. He’s giving us the key and the ability to play how we want. I like how he talks, he talks that stuff.”
Monday, the talk, and the physicality are ramping up as pads come on for the first time in Latrobe.
“I love to hit,” Brisker said. “That’s what I love, to hit. I love it.”
Brisker gets a day off on Sunday, maybe he’ll get some time with family, but not until after he finishes his workday with his new team.
“They are going to get some food,” Brisker said. “I’m going to miss out on the cookout, but it’s all good. Hopefully they save me a plate.”
He didn’t imagine it when he signed, but the Monroeville native just made a day his entire family will remember forever.
What Gateway grad said of huge family gathering at training camp & his new team
What Gateway grad said of huge family gathering at training camp & his new team
