Steelers Shut Down Mike Hilton Reunion Talk With Clear Message

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching to fix their secondary for many seasons. One of the most notable missteps came when they allowed nickel cornerback Mike Hilton to leave the Steel City. Hilton departed in 2021 as an unrestricted free agent after the Steelers were hit with a reduced salary cap following the COVID-impacted season, during which games were played without fans. Facing a long list of pending free agents, Pittsburgh couldn’t match the more lucrative offer Hilton received from the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo doesn’t believe a reunion is likely. In his Tuesday chat with readers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Fittipaldo explained that the team is focused on developing younger players at the position and may not want to allocate resources to a veteran like Hilton. While the idea of bringing back a familiar and proven contributor may appeal to fans, the Steelers appear committed to a longer-term solution, even if that means continuing to endure some growing pains in the defensive backfield.

"Looking back, they probably should have kept him before he hit free agency and signed with the Bengals," Fittipaldo said. "I know he's somewhat limited as a cover corner, but he added so much to the defense with his run support and blitzing ability."

Fittipaldo believes Steelers fans are simply romanticizing the past. At 31 years old, expecting a cornerback to step back into the demanding nickel role isn’t realistic. 

From Fittipaldo’s perspective—and likely the Steelers’ as well—there’s a reason Hilton remains unsigned, and it speaks more to where he is in his career than to what he once brought to the defense.

"But that was years ago. He's older now and there is a reason he remains a free agent," Fittipaldo said. "Plus, they have Beanie Bishop on the roster along with Brandin Echols, who signed a two-year deal in free agency."

While bringing Hilton back to Pittsburgh would be nostalgic, the Steelers have already made moves to reshape their cornerback room. They signed Brandin Echols to a two-year deal and appear confident in the development of 2024 undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. 

As a rookie, Bishop was thrown into challenging situations, but despite being targeted often, he flashed real potential and recorded four interceptions—a strong showing for an undrafted player finding his footing in the NFL. Bishop showed his ability to be in the right place at the right time, and as he grew more comfortable in the NFL, he continued to improve as the year went on. The Steelers appear to be betting that he will take another leap in his second season.

Steelers Hope To Have Much Better Play From Their Secondary In 2025

At this point, the Steelers don’t seem interested in adding another veteran defensive back. They already brought in 34-year-old Darius Slay, who adds leadership and experience on the outside. With Slay and Joey Porter Jr. locked in as the starting boundary corners, the team seems content to let Echols and Bishop compete for the nickelback role during training camp and into the season.

Pittsburgh’s secondary simply has to improve. The unit was a glaring weakness down the stretch in 2024, and the front office knows that must change if the team hopes to return to serious Super Bowl contention. With a mix of proven veterans and promising young talent, there’s hope that the secondary can transform from a liability into a strength in 2025.