Pittsburgh Perfect for Echols
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published July 30, 2025, 7:18 PM
LATROBE, Pa. – When Mike Tomlin speaks, people listen. And lately, when he talks about his cornerbacks, there’s a noticeable grin behind the words. It’s not just about the names already making headlines Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, or even Jalen Ramsey. Tomlin makes it clear: don’t sleep on Brandin Echols.
“You can bring Brandin Echols to that discussion as well,” said Tomlin, reflecting on the depth and versatility at corner. “We’ve done an awesome job fortifying that position. That’s going to allow us to match up against some of the many explosive units and players within them that we compete against.”
That’s high praise from a head coach who’s built a legacy on hard-nosed, detail-driven football. And Echols? He hears it but more importantly, he’s feeling it.
“You know, I’m still trying to earn my stripes,” Echols admitted after practice, sweat dripping. “But I feel very real good. Just being here, they let me be myself. So, that’s a plus for me because as long as I can be myself, I can go out there comfortably and do what I do.”
What does “being himself” mean for Brandin Echols?
“Man, talking shit, being feisty, just popping shit like I want to,” he says, grinning. “That’s me.”
That edge, that fire, it isn’t new it’s just finally being embraced. For the former Kentucky standout and sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2021, it’s taken a few seasons to find the right fit. Now in Pittsburgh, he’s settling in and more than that, leveling up.
When Slay took a veteran’s day off, Echols stepped into a larger role during team drills. Tomlin, never one to hand out unwarranted praise, acknowledged the moment.
“[Brandin] Echols got some quality reps today because we gave Slay a day off, and he’s deserving of it,” said Tomlin. “He’s a quality professional.”
But Echols isn’t just hoping to follow in anyone’s footsteps. After I mentioned Mike Hilton a former undrafted slot corner who made a name as a blitzing, a feisty Tomlin favorite. Echols didn’t blink.
“Yeah, I’m trying to be more than Mike Hilton,” he shot back. “I’m trying to be a major high. You know, looked at Brandon Echols.”
That confidence might come off as brash if it weren’t backed by a grind-it-out journey to this point. Echols didn’t even play defense until college.
“I was a receiver and running back growing up,” he said. “But I just didn’t have the natural receiving hands once I got to college. They moved me to defense. That’s when I started pressing on, got better. Eventually got some offers. Chose Kentucky. Went to Kentucky, went to the league.”
His NFL career began in New York, where he showed flashes including a 20-game stretch with the Jets that featured pick-sixes, pass breakups, and plenty of film that caught Pittsburgh’s attention. But something feels different in the black and gold.
“Hell yeah, man,” Echols said, reflecting on his new home. “That’s all I ask for. It took me a while to figure myself out in this game, but nah that’s why I love Pittsburgh. Like I said, they brought me in with open arms. They let me be myself. And that’s all I got for.”
Tomlin’s always valued players with bite. But now he’s got one with bite and speed, one with fire and scheme discipline. With the Steelers investing heavily in cornerback talent, the addition of Echols may prove to be a quiet steal that grows louder by the week.
And if he keeps popping off in camp like this?
Well, “being himself” might just earn Brandin Echols a major role in a defense built to bite back.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
