Ramsey Among Newcomers in Pittsburgh
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published August 9, 2025, 5:29 PM
LATROBE, Pa. – Chuck Clark knows what a top-tier defense looks like. During his six seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens finished in the NFL’s top three in total defense four times, with rankings of 6th (2017), 2nd (2018), 3rd (2019), 2nd (2020), 19th (2021), and 3rd (2022). Clark was at the heart of those units, captaining the secondary and understanding exactly what it takes to keep a defense among the league’s elite.
That’s why his words carry weight when he says he sees promise in Pittsburgh’s 2025 group. “I feel good out here playing football, getting back in the movements,” Clark said. “We just got parts that hit on a lot of spots. I’ve played on a lot of defenses before, with a lot of parts like that are similar. So, I’m excited for us, to see what we can do.”
Clark is far from the only ex-Raven making the transition. He’s joined in Pittsburgh by linebacker Patrick Queen, linebacker Malik Harrison, safety DeShon Elliott, and linebacker Jeremiah Moon. That’s a healthy infusion of AFC North familiarity and a shared standard for defensive excellence.
But beyond X’s and O’s, Clark provides a model of how to last in the NFL.
“I remember myself when I was a younger guy, earlier years you see guys that have years of experience, and you wonder why they’re still around. Why have they been in the game so long? Not many people make it past certain years in this league,” Clark said. “You want to watch their routines and habits and take pieces from different people.”
When it comes to fitting in with a new team, Clark’s advice is simple: “You just got to be you, be natural. Be normal. This is the nature of this business guys come and go daily. I’ve been in situations the last couple years where I’ve had to fit in with different guys, and I think you just got to be you and be natural.”
Clark spent 2023-24 with the New York Jets, missing the entire 2023 season after tearing in June and he resigned with New York the following year.
Off the field, Clark’s passion shifts from football to cars though he’s without his ride during training camp. “Right now, we here in camp, so I ain’t got my car out here with me, so I’m kind of a little bit gridlocked. At the end of the day, I hop on the game with a couple guys, take care of my body, watch film. It’s a campground right now. Ain’t too much fun going on.”
Ask him about his favorite car, and his answer comes with a hint of regret.
“My first one, because I would have never went through all of those,” he said with a laugh. “I had a Tahoe, and I ended up trading it for something else. That just started the line… keep going and keep going. I should have stayed with that Tahoe. I’d probably still have it to this day if I didn’t give it up.”
For now, the Tahoe may be gone, but the leadership, experience, and defensive IQ Clark brings to Pittsburgh could prove far more valuable especially for a team looking to restore its own tradition of elite defensive play.
At age 30 he joins a list of new Steelers with at least three decades of living under their belts. Daruis Slay is 34, Jalen Ramsey will be 31 in October, Robert Woods is 33 and Aaron Rodgers will turn 42 after Thanksgiving. The baby of the bunch is Jonnu Smith who turned 29 earlier this year.
What they have left in the tank is imperative to the Steelers succeeding. Thus far in camp at least, they’ve looked electric. The Steelers are betting on pedigree on priors’ years of NFL success. You couldn’t have all these guys on one roster five years ago, but father time has allowed this gifted group that includes Clark to come together in Pittsburgh.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
