The Steelers' signing of veteran safety Chuck Clark isn’t just a reunion with a familiar AFC North foe—it’s a strategic move in the reshaping of Pittsburgh’s secondary. Clark, long known for his football IQ and versatility, comes to the Steel City with the kind of durability, leadership, and run-stopping skill that matches Pittsburgh's defensive ethos.
Clark’s roots trace back to Virginia Tech, where over four seasons he started 40 games and racked up 298 tackles, 21 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions—one returned for a touchdown. He lined up everywhere: corner, safety, and in the slot. His college tape screamed reliability, awareness, and toughness, the traits that got him drafted by the Ravens in 2017’s sixth round.
Baltimore became his proving ground. As injuries piled up for others, Clark quietly ascended to defensive captain, wearing the green-dot helmet and becoming the communicator for one of the league’s most complex schemes. From 2019 to 2022, he started 61 games, posting over 350 tackles, five interceptions, and two touchdowns. He never missed more than a handful of snaps in any season, and consistently ranked among the league's best in missed tackle percentage.
In 2023, Clark was traded to the Jets—but suffered a torn ACL in OTAs. He returned in 2024, playing 12 games before a torn pectoral ended his season. Still, he showed flashes of his old self—gritty in run support, sure-handed as a tackler, and steady as a veteran voice in a younger room.
What Pittsburgh gets is a hybrid safety who excels near the line of scrimmage, can spot-start at either safety spot, and fills multiple roles in sub-packages. His pluses include:
Excellent run defender and tackler with top-tier consistency
Experienced communicator, leader, and film-study guy
Versatile alignment: deep safety, box defender, slot corner
But there are limitations:
Coverage upside is average—struggles in deep zones against speed
Injuries have slowed his burst and recovery traits
Penalty-prone when overaggressive or put in single-high situations
Still, Clark could fit nicely into a Steelers defense that values toughness, versatility, and intelligence. He’s no longer a Pro Bowl candidate, but he’s a solid piece for a unit replacing star power with structural depth. In a division he knows as well as anyone, Clark could be the glue Pittsburgh needs in crucial late-season moments.
Welcome to Pittsburgh, Chuck Clark. You've already fought this fight before—now it’s time to fight for the black and gold.
(photo courtesy of the New York Jets)