Andrew Vasquez, Steelers WireMon, November 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM UTC·1 min readHeading into Week 12, HC Mike Tomlin claimed Pittsburgh Steelers CB Darius Slay would get the starting nod against the Chicago Bears — but that's not exactly what transpired on Sunday, with CB James Pierre usurping the role from the veteran defender.
In the Steelers' post-game press conference following the loss to the Bears, Tomlin revealed why Pierre got the start over Slay — basing the decision on a higher quality of work during practice.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Again, [Pierre] got a quality week's work," Tomlin said. "When you're going into tough competitive circumstances, sometimes you base decisions on preparation and who gets the looks. And certainly, as we mentioned and talked about over the last several weeks, James Pierre has been playing well. We'll see what holds for next week."
While Slay didn't get the start in Week 12, he did replace CB Joey Porter Jr., who injured his hip in the loss to Chicago.
It remains to be seen if Pierre's play against the Bears was enough to earn him the starting nod moving forward — but considering Slay's struggles early this season, it wouldn't be the worst decision Pittsburgh could make at 6-5.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Mike Tomlin reveals why Pierre started over Slay in Week 12
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