Change of scenery
New cornerback Witherspoon happy for trade to Steelers
New Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has an easygoing perspective on life, which has served him after his NFL career was turned upside-down in the past few months.
After starting 33 games over his first four years with the 49ers, Witherspoon signed a oneyear, $4 million contract with Seattle in the spring with the expectation that he would in the starting lineup for the Seahawks.
When that didn’t happen, he was traded to the Steelers and now he’s starting all over again just days before his fifth season is set to commence.
“I’m on, like, rep 1,000 of getting pushed down to the ground and having to get back up,” Witherspoon said Monday afternoon following his first practice with the Steelers. “The first one was the toughest one. I’m deep into this process of overcoming obstacles, so I’m like, ‘C’mon, let’s get it.’ I’m here right now for a reason.”
The Steelers needed to upgrade the depth at cornerback with a mostly green group behind veteran Joe Haden.
Haden and Cam Sutton are the starters, and it appears second-year outside corner James Pierre is set to be the No. 3 corner, with Sutton moving inside in sub-packages.
Witherspoon immediately became the second-most experienced corner on the team when he arrived. Like Sutton, Witherspoon was a third-round pick in
the 2017 draft. He was the second selection of the third round and the No. 66 overall pick while the Steelers nabbed Sutton with the No. 94 overall pick.
Sutton, however, only has eight career starts on his NFL resume and Pierre has none.
Witherspoon’s role with the Steelers is undefined, though he is expected to push Pierre for playing time once he gets acclimated to his new surroundings. He arrived in town late Saturday, took a physical on Sunday and got his feet wet Monday in a Labor Day practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.
“Honestly, the way we’re talking about it is simple stuff to keep brain free because a busy brain is going to slow me down on the field,” Witherspoon said. “I’m just taking it day by day. I’m very good at retaining information as well so once I get more comfortable I’m going to keep adding more.”
Witherspoon believes the change of scenery will help him.
“It’s definitely much different, but it’s something that I feel fits my skill set well, and I’m excited to kind of switch up what I’ve been doing for the last four years and get out here and work something else,” Witherspoon said. “A lot of man coverage is important for my game. Then switching it up and giving the quarterback different looks, so we’re not predictable.”
Witherspoon, who completed his degree in biology from the University of Colorado last year, has his sights set on becoming a doctor later in life. He developed relationships with medical professionals in San Francisco and Seattle and hopes to do the same in Pittsburgh.
But he’s not in any hurry to start medical school and remains focused on maxing out his football career to its highest potential.
“I’ve always been fascinated with education and the challenge of anything in life, really,” Witherspoon said. “Cornerback is my favorite one right now. When that’s over I’ll go onto another one.”
While Witherspoon’s ascension up the depth chart with the Steelers is far from a sure thing, there could be opportunities here in the short- and long-term. Pierre is unproven while Haden is finishing out the final year of his contract and made it known last week he was going to test free agency for the first time.
Witherspoon will be a free agent, too, but if the Steelers are intrigued by his talents he could become a candidate to fill a job next season. After starting 12 games for the 49ers in 2018, his role dwindled in each of the past two seasons with eight starts in 2019 and four last season.
The fresh start he thought he was getting with the Seahawks is now happening with the Steelers.
“It’s still early,” he said. “I’m just getting in and trying to understand the defense and working to solidify a role on this team.”