Ex-Steelers Players Post Farewells as Brisker Signs with Pittsburgh

Calvin Austin III and Connor Heyward bid farewell to Pittsburgh, while Jaquan Brisker, a native of the city, looks forward to joining the Steelers.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:08pm

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III and tight end Connor Heyward have posted farewell messages to the city of Pittsburgh after signing with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively. Meanwhile, newly acquired Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker, a Pittsburgh native, is excited to join the team and is looking forward to eating some Mineo's pizza.

Why it matters

The departures of Austin and Heyward, both popular players, mark the end of an era for the Steelers, while the signing of Brisker, a hard-hitting safety from the local area, represents the team's commitment to improving their defense and connecting with the community.

The details

Austin and Heyward both took to social media to express their gratitude and affection for the city of Pittsburgh, where they spent the early parts of their NFL careers. Brisker, who had an impressive 82.5 tackling grade in 2025, is eager to join the Steelers and looks forward to enjoying some of the city's famous Mineo's pizza.

  • On March 12, 2026, Calvin Austin III and Connor Heyward posted their farewell messages to Pittsburgh.
  • On March 12, 2026, Jaquan Brisker expressed his desire to get some Mineo's pizza after signing with the Steelers.

The players

Calvin Austin III

A former wide receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has signed with the New York Giants.

Connor Heyward

A former tight end and special teams ace for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jaquan Brisker

A hard-hitting safety who was born in Pittsburgh and has signed with the Steelers, his hometown team.

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What they’re saying

“PITTSBURGH, love forever”

— Calvin Austin III (X)

“Thank you Pittsburgh”

— Connor Heyward (X)

“I need some Mineo's like ASAP lol !”

— Jaquan Brisker (X)

The takeaway

The departures of Austin and Heyward, coupled with the arrival of Brisker, signal a changing of the guard for the Steelers. While the team will miss the contributions of these popular players, the signing of the hard-hitting, Pittsburgh-native Brisker represents the team's commitment to improving their defense and connecting with the local community.