PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers didn’t just add another body to the secondary ahead of Week 5. They brought in a veteran cornerback with real mileage, real versatility and a chance to jump right into meaningful snaps against the Indianapolis Colts.
Sean Murphy-Bunting is the headliner among Pittsburgh’s two defensive additions, and his path to the roster was a little unusual. The Steelers claimed him off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad after he missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury. He had already turned heads in training camp and the preseason, and now he’s set up to contribute right away for a defense that needs help in a hurry.
When he met with reporters for the first time since arriving, Murphy-Bunting laid out exactly what he believes he brings to the table.
"My strengths are my knowledge of the game, my versatility, probably my press (coverage)," he said in self-evaluation. "Being able to play the line of scrimmage. Just versatility."
That kind of flexibility is exactly what the Steelers were after. Murphy-Bunting said his agent called with the news that Pittsburgh wanted to claim him, and the decision was his on whether to head north and join the team. For a 29-year-old with 11 career interceptions, it was a chance he didn’t hesitate to embrace.
"When I found out, I was obviously excited, you know, just for the opportunity," he told Steelers On SI publisher Noah Strackbein. "Just blessed for the opportunity to just compete and be on a team with this much talent. So, you know, I'm excited for what's to come."
Murphy-Bunting arrives with plenty of experience, having played in 82 games in the NFL. Drafted in the second round in 2019, he’s spent time outside at boundary corner, inside at nickel and in multiple coverage systems, including zone and man. That kind of background fits neatly with what this staff has been stressing.
"Being versatile," he said. "I feel like I can play pretty much anywhere."
There’s also more to his game than what happens on Sundays. Murphy-Bunting talked about being active in the film room and helping younger teammates sort through the details of the position. Even in a difficult last year, he said he made it a point to be useful to the room around him.
"I prided myself on being able to be there for the young guys that we had in that room," he said. "Whether it's the mental part of the game, whether it's knowing how to watch film. Just being an asset to the team."
That’s the hope in Pittsburgh now too. The Steelers need cornerback play, and they need it fast. Murphy-Bunting is expected to be in the mix as soon as Week 5, giving the defense a veteran option at a time when help is badly needed.
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