McCarthy compares Jalen Ramsey’s versatility to Charles Woodson’s Packers role

Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy used Charles Woodson as a blueprint when he talked about how Pittsburgh intends to maximize Jalen Ramsey in the defensive back end. During offseason workouts, McCarthy pointed to Woodson’s ability to move around the formation in Green Bay and argued Ramsey can play a similarly flexible set of roles, describing it as “an excellent comparison.”

McCarthy’s comments fit a broader internal philosophy the Steelers have emphasized for 2026: be cautious about locking players into one label, and instead build packages around skill sets. Whitt, who previously coached with the Packers, recalled that Woodson’s move inside, including time as the nickel, helped “his game” reach a different level. Whitt said Woodson and Ramsey share a “similar skill set” as well as “similar size” and “similar speed,” and he expects the coaching staff to use Ramsey in a comparable fashion.

If that sounds like a throwback to the classic cornerback-and-safety debate, the key detail is the range of assignments. The Steelers’ own explanation of their plan for Ramsey centered on versatility across the back end, describing Woodson as someone who lined up as more than just a corner, and as a player used in multiple contexts during Packers games.

Woodson’s résumé gives the comparison weight. In Green Bay, he won the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 after tying for the league lead with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, while also posting 74 tackles and four forced fumbles. Woodson’s Packers Hall of Fame profile also emphasizes how his role expanded beyond a single coverage spot, including time as a roving, off-the-ball defender and assignments that could change play to play.

Ramsey’s presence gives Pittsburgh a live player to build around. Steelers materials list him as a cornerback on the roster (6-1, 211 pounds) and his versatility has already been part of the team’s public messaging as the staff works through offseason installations. The practical question heading into training camp is whether Ramsey’s usage will tilt more toward nickel and dime snaps against passing-heavy looks, or whether Pittsburgh will consistently ask him to move between coverage responsibilities and deeper safety-type assignments as matchups dictate.

For McCarthy and Whitt, the upside is straightforward: when you can rotate a high-end defender without losing structural integrity, you can disguise looks and force quarterbacks to make quicker, tighter reads. In a league where nickel and dime personnel are common, the staff’s Woodson-to-Ramsey storyline is essentially about having a single elite athlete who can cover, attack, and play downhill enough to stay on the field when the formation changes.

What to watch next is how that versatility shows up on-field. The Steelers’ offseason calendar includes OTAs through mid-June, and that is typically when roles become clearer in walkthroughs and limited situational work. The first preseason weeks, and then the season opener, will be the real test of whether Ramsey’s “different things” package becomes a consistent weapon or remains more matchup-dependent.