Inside linebackers: Carson Bruener, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson
Payton Wilson was known as a top-flight coverage 'backer following his rookie 2024 season, and in 2025 he led the Steelers in solo tackles.
Wilson led the 2025 Steelers in solo tackles with 62 in making 109 combined tackles.
Of course, Wilson retained his splendid reputation as a downfield playmaker. Cameron Heyward, in discussing his favorite plays of 2025, named Wilson's tackle of Vikings receiver Jordan Addison first on defense.
"Watching Payton Wilson track down (Addison) was like watching teach tape of how the play isn't over until it's over," Heyward said.
To recap, in Dublin, with the Steelers holding a 10-point lead, the Vikings had first down at their 18 with 3:25 left in the game. Wilson, playing in slot coverage, chased down outside receiver Addison, who had caught the Carson Wentz pass while all alone at the 50.
Wilson took off in pursuit, dove at the Pittsburgh 5, and brought Addison down at the 1 after an 81-yard reception. It took the Vikings until fourth down to punch the ball in for a touchdown, but Wilson's hustle cost the Vikings precious time in the Steelers' 24-21 win. It was also the fastest linebacker time recorded by Next Gen Stats in its eight-year history of tracking.
The play underscored Wilson's ability in coverage, while his tackle numbers speak to his willingness to mix it up. Wilson also made 18 tackles on special teams to finish third on the team and 15th in the NFL.
Patrick Queen, the playcaller of the Steelers defense, led the Steelers with 120 combined tackles (second with 56 solo tackles). Queen also led the ILB group with 8 tackles-for-loss, 5 QB hits, and 4 passes defensed. He started 17 games and grew
into his role with the "green dot," the designation for the player with the microphone in his helmet who calls the defensive signals.
It was Queen's second season with the Steelers after coming over in free agency following his first four seasons in the league.
Former playcaller James Farrior, whom the Steelers signed in free agency after his fifth season in the league, once said it took him two to three years to begin feeling comfortable as playcaller. Queen agreed with the assessment.
"I may have been more comfortable this year. Still a lot of getting used to," said Queen. "There are always new calls that we're putting in here, so it's just a point of me still getting comfortable.
"But I'm in Year 6. I just gotta go play football. I just gotta go be myself. I think I've been putting too much stress on myself to be able to go out there and try to do too much. I think I just gotta go do what I do, do it at a high level. get to the ball, make those plays, and make big plays. Just be me."
Malik Harrison jumped from the Ravens to the Steelers to join the ILB corps this season. Injured in the opener, the 6-3, 247-pound downhill thumper was activated just before, and started, the game against the Colts.
The Steelers used Harrison to help limit Jonathan Taylor – the NFL's leading rusher at the time – to 45 yards on 14 carries for an average of 3.2 per carry. The Steelers won the game, and Harrison went on to start eight more. His nine starts in 2025 were a career high.
Harrison finished the season with 37 tackles (22 solo) and 2 tackles-for-loss.
Successful inside linebackers usually taste their first success on special teams. If that holds true, rookie Carson Bruener has a bright future as an ILB.
A seventh-round pick, the son of former Steelers great Mark Bruener was recently voted to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team for his work as a coverage ace on special teams.
Bruener finished second on the Steelers with 19 special teams tackles, only two behind Steelers special-teams Pro Bowler Ben Skowronek. Bruener finished ninth in the NFL, five behind the leader.
Bruener played in all 17 games this season and was a core special-teamer, playing in 287 special-teams snaps (1 defensive snap).
Former defensive signalcaller Cole Holcomb returned to the playing field in 2025 after a difficult one-and-a-half-year absence due to a knee injury.
Holcomb made 28 tackles in 2025, including a season-high 7 tackles against both the Ravens and Bengals. He also played 161 snaps on special teams.
Holcomb, who'll turn 30 in July, is the only potential free agent of the ILB group.
