Steelers Stand Pat at Trade Deadline

With the NFL trade deadline falling on Halloween this season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans who were hoping to see general manager Omar Khan make a bold move to improve his team got a trick instead of a treat.

The Steelers stood pat on what was a generally quiet NFL trade deadline day, failing to make a trade deadline move for the first time since 2019. The team will not make any in-season trades this year, the first time that has happened since 2018.

The lack of moves wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Steelers were reportedly involved in talks with the Chicago Bears for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, but Chicago ultimately decided to keep the disgruntled star, who had requested a trade.

The Steelers also appeared to be looking to make a move involving incumbent cornerback Levi Wallace, but he remains on the squad now that the 4 p.m. deadline has passed.

The Steelers will move forward with their secondary intact personnel-wise, but that doesn’t mean that it will be the same. Joey Porter Jr. will move into a starting role for the rest of the season, head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said this week.

That could mean a move to the bench for Wallace, or it could also mean more of Patrick Peterson playing in the slot, or at free safety, where the team will be without All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick for at least this week’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

STEELERS IN-SEASON TRADE HISTORY SINCE 2013

* trades made at deadline. Adam Borst contributed research for this article.