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The Pittsburgh Steelers are attempting to put some space between themselves and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, so they want to improve their roster across the board. Because of that, they have added defensive back Asante Samuel Jr. to their practice squad.
The cornerback has decided on his jersey number with the Steelers heading into their Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Samuel will wear No. 22, which was last assigned to safety Sebastian Castro.
Pittsburgh Steelers DB Asante Samuel (@godschild3_) is wearing number 22. Last assigned to Sebastian Castro. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/wlhT9VHZrS
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) November 12, 2025
Samuel wore No. 26 for the Los Angeles Chargers, who selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He worked his way up to being a top cornerback, but his 2024 season ended when he suffered an injury against the Denver Broncos.
He played in four games last year, the fewest of his career, and he’s hoping for much more with the Steelers. He has been celebrated for his skills and instincts, and he has 176 combined tackles and six interceptions in his 50 NFL games.
While No. 22 might seem like a regular number to most people, it holds a special place in Saumel’s heart. His father, Asante Samuel, wore it for his entire NFL career playing for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, and his son would love to follow in his footsteps with those sorts of accomplishments. His reputation as a strong defender could grow now that he has signed with Pittsburgh.
