Steelers Move On From Former National Champion Safety Shortly After Signing Him
The Pittsburgh Steelers officially added veteran safety Darnell Savage to their roster this week, but the move came at the expense of another defensive back. To make room, Pittsburgh waived safety Makari Paige less than three weeks after signing him.
The Steelers announced Paige’s release on Tuesday, ending a brief stint with the organization. Although he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game, Paige was a key contributor to the Michigan Wolverines football squad that captured the national championship during the 2023 season.
Paige originally joined Pittsburgh on May 13 after the team parted ways with cornerback Cory Trice Jr.. His time with the Steelers, however, proved short-lived.
During five seasons at Michigan, Paige appeared in 53 games and recorded 135 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions, and one sack. He played an important role in the Wolverines’ title-winning 2023 campaign, finishing that season with 41 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Before arriving in Pittsburgh, Paige spent time with the New York Giants after signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He remained on the Giants’ practice squad during his rookie season.
Crowded Safety Room Led to Paige’s Exit
Paige had only a brief window during offseason workouts to make his case for a roster spot before being released ahead of mandatory minicamp. The decision was not entirely unexpected given the Steelers’ extensive efforts to strengthen their secondary.
Since March, Pittsburgh has added multiple safeties, including free-agent acquisitions and draft selections. The team also selected Robert Spears-Jennings in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making competition for roster spots even more intense.
Given those additions, waiving Paige became the most straightforward path to finalize Savage’s arrival.
Veteran Darnell Savage Brings Experience to Pittsburgh
Although reports surfaced in March that Savage would join the Steelers, the signing was not officially completed until this week.
The former first-round pick enters Pittsburgh with significant NFL experience. Over seven seasons, Savage has appeared in 97 games with 83 starts, compiling 371 tackles, 41 pass defenses, 10 interceptions, and 11 tackles for loss.
Selected 21st overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2019 NFL Draft, Savage spent five seasons in Green Bay and enjoyed his most productive year in 2020, when he posted 75 tackles and four interceptions.
Since leaving the Packers, he has had stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders, and Buffalo Bills. During the 2025 season, he appeared in 12 games and recorded 18 tackles, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Pittsburgh also signed veteran safety Jaquan Brisker this offseason. Brisker is expected to compete for a starting role alongside DeShon Elliott, while analysts believe Jalen Ramsey could also see significant time at safety during the upcoming se
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