Exclusive: Veteran Safety Sounds Off on Playing for the Steelers
Veteran safety Eric Rowe played for several high-profile NFL franchises during his career. Notably, Rowe spent three seasons with the New England Patriots from 2016 to 2018. However, Rowe still saw the opportunity to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a unique experience.
“It’s exciting to go to a team that has historically been a consistent program,” Rowe said, via Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now . “It was hard and physical. I’ve played the Steelers a few times before and it’s never easy. “So when you go to a program like this, you can’t decide where you’re going to play, but when I got the call, I was like, ‘Oh, I might get a chance to play.’ The Steelers. “
Rowe made the most of the opportunity in Pittsburgh. In three regular season games, he made three starts and totaled 29 tackles, including one for a loss. Rowe also had two passes defensed, a forced fumble and an interception.
He also recorded a pass defensed and eight combined tackles against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round. The Steelers organization received high praise from Safety Eric Rowe.
During Pittsburgh’s three-game losing streak last December, there was some debate about whether the Steelers’ streak was dead.
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in seven years. This is the team’s longest streak since its first postseason win in 1972. But that obviously doesn’t matter to Rowe. Rowe, who is looking for work, will probably jump at the chance. However, it is clear from his quotes that he is still influenced by the mysticism of black and gold.
Rowe spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins. During that time, the Dolphins went through two head coaches: Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel.
After McDaniel was hired, Flores said Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told him he would pay him $100,000 for each loss during the 2019 season. Because Ross wants the team to pick the group.
Despite the recent lack of playoff success, this is clearly not the standard the Steelers have set for their coaches and players. How will Rowe fit with the Steelers in 2024?
Rowe was granted playing time in Pittsburgh at the end of the 2023 season due to the team’s safety needs. But it appears that Rowe is not a short-term solution for the Steelers. In his season-ending press conference, coach Mike Tomlin said Rowe could “definitely” have a role on the 2024 team.
However, all four of Pittsburgh’s top safeties remain under contract through the 2024 season. Veteran defensive end Patrick Peterson also said he could make a permanent move at safety to extend his career.
But Peterson may have been a victim of cover-up. The same goes for veteran safety Keanu Neal, who finished the season on the bench.
Spotrac projects the Steelers will be more than $6 million over the salary cap when free agency begins. So teams will have to make hard cuts to maximize their flexibility to sign free agents.
That could make Rowe an attractive replacement for Peterson and Neal. Rowe can be much cheaper. He was a better safety than Peterson. During his nine-year NFL career, Rowe totaled 410 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, in 103 games. He also had 43 passes defensed, six interceptions and two sacks.
