Jabrill Peppers’ Surprising New Jersey Number with the Steelers Raises Eyebrows—Find Out Why!

When the Pittsburgh Steelers snapped up Jabrill Peppers after his surprising release from the Patriots, I couldn’t help but wonder: will changing his jersey number to 40 usher in a fresh chapter or just another twist in his NFL journey? Peppers, now filling in for the injured DeShon Elliott, faces more than just a new look on his back—there’s the question of how he’ll adapt from strong safety to potentially roam free safety in a defense still shaking off the loss of Minkah Fitzpatrick. It’s a fascinating chess move by the Steelers, betting on a seasoned playmaker to plug holes and ignite a sputtering defense that looked vulnerable against the Jets. So, what does Peppers’ presence—and that new number—mean for Pittsburgh’s chances this season? Buckle up, because this might just be the spark they’ve been chasing.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 26: Jabrill Peppers #5 of the New England Patriots celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. — (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t waste any time addressing a big concern.

With starting safety DeShon Elliott out with an injury, they went out to sign a prime replacement.

Now, that newcomer has settled on his jersey number.

“Jabrill Peppers will wear No. 40,” Nick Farabaugh posted on X.

Jabrill Peppers will wear No. 40.

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 10, 2025

Elliott dodged a serious injury, but his mild MCL sprain is going to sideline him for several weeks.

It was somewhat surprising to see the New England Patriots cut Peppers, who became one of the best free agents available in the early stages of the season.

There are some concerns about his usage in Pittsburgh, though.

He’s used to playing strong safety, so possibly moving to free safety might be an adjustment, although he’s likely capable of doing so.

The Steelers lost a star at the position when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who proved to be more than worth the gamble with a throwback performance in Week 1 against the New York Jets.

He was one of the few bright spots on a Steelers defense that gave up 32 points to a Justin Fields offense.

Pittsburgh is expected to be much better against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, and adding another proven veteran like Peppers to the mix should help them in that regard.

The post Jabrill Peppers Has Decided On His Jersey Number With Steelers appeared first on The Cold Wire.