Steelers Super Bowl LV Champion Cornerback Believes Pittsburgh Can Win Super Bowl LXI
The Steelers haven’t been close to making it to the Super Bowl in a long time. Veteran cornerback Jamel Dean believes that they can change that in 2026. He signed a three-year contract with the team in March. The Auburn alumnus was a member of the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the Super Bowl.
Dean appeared on El Podcast Immaculado, the Steelers Spanish-language podcast, on Thursday. He said, “This team right here reminds me of that team we had in Tampa, when we won the Super Bowl. Like, we got all the pieces that we need.” The 29-year-old explained, “We got veteran guys that understand the game, that know what it takes to get there; and we also got younger guys that are bonding to the system, and they’re also coming along to make plays, too.” Having a team with a balance of proven veteran leaders and young talent helped the Bucs succeed in their Super Bowl run.
There’s another interesting similarity between the 2020 Bucs and the 2026 Steelers. It’s having a 43-year-old quarterback. Tom Brady was 43 when the Bucs defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV with a score of 31-9. Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will turn 43 on December 2nd.
Dean has firsthand experience with a championship roster, so his opinions carry real weight. The Auburn alumnus spent seven seasons with the Bucs after they drafted him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The six-foot-one corner has played in 96 games throughout his career, starting in 77 of them. He’s amassed 359 total tackles, 61 passes defended, and 11 interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown. He also had three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a sack. The veteran cornerback’s performance in 2025 was impressive. He recorded 46 total tackles, nine passes defended, and three interceptions, which included a pick-six. He also had two forced fumbles and a sack.
The experienced boundary corner’s comparison between the 2026 Steelers and the 2020 Bucs is certainly a morale boost. Heena Singh of Gridiron Heroics stated, “For Pittsburgh, that is exactly the kind of internal confidence a new era under Mike McCarthy needs right now.” However, it’s been nearly a decade since the Steelers won a playoff game. They have a long way to go to become a Super Bowl contender. It will be interesting to see if they can finally secure a postseason win.
