​Historically, the Pittsburgh Steelers have boasted some of the NFL’s greatest safeties. Names like Donnie Shell, Carnell Lake, Rod Woodson, and Troy Polamalu are enduring legends whose impact on the position is still felt today. ESPN recently conducted its rankings by polling NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to determine the 10 best safeties in the league for 2026. In their consideration, no Steelers from the past or present cracked the top 10, but two Steelers did receive votes.
Among the current Steelers, Jalen Ramsey garnered a handful of votes even though he only transitioned to safety midway through the season. Ramsey began the year strongly, operating as the team’s free safety and showing elite-level play before his production cooled in the latter part of the campaign. For the upcoming season, however, Ramsey is not even slated to play safety; he is expected to function more as a slot cornerback and an outside linebacker in Patrick Graham’s new defensive scheme, which marks a notable shift from his traditional safety responsibilities.
Also receiving votes was former Steeler Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was widely regarded as one of the league’s top safeties during his Pittsburgh tenure, a status amplified by the Steelers’ decision to trade for him. After stints with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, as well as six seasons with Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick continues to be viewed—by some voters—as a premier talent at the safety position, even as he has since moved on from the Steelers.
This piece originally appeared on Steelers Wire and discusses how both Steelers past and present drew votes in ESPN’s Top 10 safeties list, contributing to the conversation about the franchise’s storied safety lineage while also highlighting how current Steelers are being evaluated in a rapidly evolving defensive landscape.