Ex Patriots Safety Envisioned Revenge Against Former Team

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 5:53 PM

ex patriots safety envisioned revenge against former team

The New England Patriots decision to release Jabrill Peppers before the season was a bit of a shocking one. He wasn't on the market long, though, as Peppers quickly found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steeler. It's safe to say that Sunday's game between the Patriots and Steelers was more than personal for the former New England safety. "I envisioned it last night. Let the fans know I miss them, but I'm down with the Steel Curtain now," Peppers said via Steelers ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor. Peppers was in New England from 2022-2024 and had some of the best seasons of his career with the team.

The 2023 season was his best, as he finished with two interceptions (career high), eight passes defended (second most) and 78 tackles (third most). If Peppers did envision the game against his former team, it turned out to be a stellar one. He finished the game with six tackles and a fumble recovery. It is the first time Peppers has collected five-plus tackles and a fumble recovery in the same game since Week 3 of the 2022 season. Former Patriots star 'envisioned' revenge, made New England regret cutting him originally appeared on The Sporting News The New England Patriots had a dreadful performance in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, turning the ball over five times in a 21-14 loss that puts New England in a 1-2 hole.

To make the loss even more bitter for the Patriots, one of their turnovers was at the hands of a player they let go ahead of the season. Safety Jabrill Peppers recovered an Antonio Gibson fumble in Steelers territory, killing any chances of New England scoring. The former Patriot was asked about getting a takeaway against his former team, to which he was very ecstatic. "I needed this one," Peppers said via Alan Saunders. "It feels good right now. ...

I had to keep my emotions in check, not letting the moment be too big and let the plays come to you." Peppers was a starter in the Patriots' defensive backfield for three seasons, and it was a very big surprise to many that the Michigan product was released before the regular season. Sunday's win for the Pittsburgh Steelers served as a measure of revenge for safety Jabrill Peppers, who was surprisingly cut from the New England Patriots' roster. But Peppers himself doesn't view it that way. After the game, he admitted that he has no hard feelings with his former team following his abrupt exit. “Nah, man.

I’ve got a lot of love and respect for those guys, man," Peppers said, via Boston Herald's Zack Cox. "You can’t mix feelings with business. It is what it is. I know they’ve got a lot of tough decisions to make when it comes to the roster. They’ve got a lot of great young players over there, got a lot of guys who can really impact the game. I grinded with those guys.

I love them, and I miss them, but I love my new home now, too.” Peppers played well for the Steelers, recording six tackles and a fumble recovery on the day in the 21-14 victory. This was reminiscent of how he played with the Patriots as a physical, ball-hawking safety. He recorded 178 tackles and three interceptions in three seasons with New England. Jabrill Peppers spent three seasons with the New England Patriots, and starred as one of the team's best defensive player. The former captain made the initial 53-man roster this summer, but after a number of roster moves, the Patriots parted ways with Peppers — a move that caught him by surprise.

After signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago, he was in line for a revenge game against his former team. In Week 3 at Gillette Stadium, Peppers played a major role in Pittsburgh's 21-14 win over New England. Peppers recorded six total tackles and recovered one of the Patriots' four fumbles. The recovery, coming from a turnover from Antonio Gibson, let Peppers run down the field and let the former Patriots star bask in his new threads. "Couldn't have scripted it any better unless it was a pick-six," Peppers said. "I had a dream last night that I made a play, and then the little celebration I did, that's what I did in my dream and it held true."

Did Peppers need the win in his return to his old stomping grounds? The former Patriots safety received a game ball for his performance. Jabrill Peppers made his return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, and it was a successful one for the former New England Patriots starting safety. Not only did his Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a 21-14 victory, he also had an active hand in finalizing the end result. Peppers finished the game with six tackles and also recovered an Antonio Gibson fumble in the third quarter. He also was awarded a game ball from head coach Mike Tomlin afterwards.

“I needed this one,” Peppers said after the game. “I thank each and every man, coach in here. We had a great week of work, great prep. It feels good right now. I just had to keep my emotions in check — not let the moment be too big, let the plays come to you.” Originally arriving in New England in 2022, Peppers appeared in 38 games with 26 starts over three seasons in New England.

Nonetheless, head coach Mike Vrabel and company decided to part ways with the 29-year-old in late August. Even though he had made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster, he was released in an apparent effort to get younger on the defensive side of the ball. For the first time this young season, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ defense lived up to the hype. Teryl Austin’s unit played a huge role in Week 3’s 21-14 win over the New England Patriots, as each level of the group contributed. One of the brightest stars of the afternoon was one of the players with the least amount of experience in Pittsburgh. Newcomer safety Jabrill Peppers, who signed less than two full weeks before this game, finally got some runway on defense.

Peppers made the most of it, setting the tone for a road victory in a place he knows all too well. Peppers got the last laugh against a Patriots team he spent three-plus years with. After the game, he told local media what the significance of that is to him. “Absolutely,” Peppers said. “I needed this one. I thank each and every man [and] coach in here.

We had a great week of work, great prep. It feels good right now. I just had to keep my emotions in check. Not let the moment get too big, let the plays come to you. I definitely have a lot I have to work on as far as the minute details and things, but it’s definitely good correcting things after a win.” The former Patriots safety received a game ball for his performance.

Jabrill Peppers made his return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, and it was a successful one for the former New England Patriots starting safety. Not only did his Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a 21-14 victory, he also had an active hand in finalizing the end result. Peppers finished the game with six tackles and also recovered an Antonio Gibson fumble in the third quarter. He also was awarded a game ball from head coach Mike Tomlin afterwards. “I needed this one,” Peppers said after the game. “I thank each and every man, coach in here.

We had a great week of work, great prep. It feels good right now. I just had to keep my emotions in check — not let the moment be too big, let the plays come to you.” Originally arriving in New England in 2022, Peppers appeared in 38 games with 26 starts over three seasons in New England. Nonetheless, head coach Mike Vrabel and company decided to part ways with the 29-year-old in late August. Even though he had made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster, he was released in an apparent effort to get younger on the defensive side of the ball.

Sep 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) for a safety during the second half at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Across the NFL, the Patriots had multiple former players compete for their new teams. Three of those past players suited up at Foxborough for a revenge game against New England. Below is a breakdown about how some ex-Patriots players performed in Week 3. Mac Jones shined Sunday while making his second consecutive start for an injured Brock Purdy.

Jones, who the Patriots moved off of in 2024 to draft Drake Maye fourth overall, completed 27 of his 41 passes for 284 yards, throwing an interception and a passing touchdown. The Alabama product helped lead the 49ers to a tightly-contested 16-15 win over the Cardinals to start the season 3-0. They are the only 3-0 team in the NFC West, defeating the Seahawks earlier in the season with their next divisional game scheduled for Oct. 2 at the Rams. Purdy, who has missed two games with turf toe, is continuing to practice and could return to game action on Sunday against the Jaguars. Jones is day-to-day with a knee injury, which he played through during his victory over the Cardinals.

Kendrick Bourne helped Jones lead the 49ers past Arizona, catching four of his six targets for 38 yards. Bourne, who was cut by the Patriots in August, reeled in two first-down receptions in his second game back with the 49ers. Through two contests back with the team that picked him up as an undrafted free agent, has seven receptions for 70 yards. He has only played with Jones, as Purdy recovers from his turf toe injury. Jabrill Peppers offered his first comments to the media after he was surprisingly released by the New England Patriots. “It is what it is, sometimes you’re not good enough,” the safety, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, told reporters.

Ex Patriots Safety Envisioned Revenge Against Former Team

People Also Search

The New England Patriots Decision To Release Jabrill Peppers Before

The 2023 Season Was His Best, As He Finished With

To Make The Loss Even More Bitter For The Patriots,

I Had To Keep My Emotions In Check, Not Letting

I’ve Got A Lot Of Love And Respect For Those