DeShon Elliott, Steelers Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $12.5M Contract Extension

DeShon Elliott is reportedly staying with the Pittsburgh Steelers for years to come.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday that Elliott and the Steelers agreed to a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension that includes $9.2 million in guarantees. Elliott spent 2024 with the Steelers after previously suiting up for the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins.

If nothing else, this extension provides some stability for the defensive back after he bounced around with multiple teams during the first six years of his career.

And he sounded like someone who wanted to stay in Pittsburgh with head coach Mike Tomlin for the foreseeable future even before agreeing to this extension.

"You walk in the building, and honestly, it's hard to describe the feeling," he said during OTAs, per Teresa Varley of the team's official website. "Just knowing that when a coach talks to you, he's not talking to you just to check a box. He's talking to you because he actually cares.

"If I'm talking to Mike T, it's about my family or the things I have going on at home, like my dad. They've reached out to try to help me with that. It feels like something different for me.

"I really love being here."

That Pittsburgh wanted him to remain a key part of its secondary for the future comes as no surprise, as he was largely excellent in 2024. He posted a career-best 108 tackles to go with six passes defended, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception.

The tackling numbers stand out, as Elliott's ability to provide run support and hit receivers over the middle helped the Steelers defense set the tone as they made the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.

It was also the fourth time in the five years Elliott posted at least 80 tackles, although the first three came with the Ravens, Lions and Dolphins.

Elliott is also just 28 years old, so it is reasonable for the Steelers to expect those tackle numbers to continue throughout the length of this deal. That surely played a role in their decision-making process, and the plan is for him to remain a key part of the defense for multiple years.