Beanie Bishop’s rookie season started as most undrafted free agents do — bumpy. With Cameron Sutton suspended for the first eight games of the 2024 season, Bishop won the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting slot role during training camp but struggled out of the gate.
Early on, Bishop was harassed by veteran quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco, and, most recently, Dak Prescott. He gave up touchdowns to the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and even the Las Vegas Raiders.
But Bishop has settled in nicely, and his three-interception performance (in a two-game span) in October earned him the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Month.
For the rebound, Bishop credits extra film study with Mike Tomlin.
“People know I watch film with coach Tomlin on Friday mornings before meetings,” Bishop told Joe Rutter of TribLive. “But early in the week, when I get here, he’s seen me, and we watch this or that. I see what he’s looking at, and he’s giving me tips.”
The film study sessions intensified after Bishop allowed 90 passing yards and a 75% completion rate to Prescott in Week 5.
“He planted a bug in my ear,” Bishop said. “I came in Tuesday to get my workout in. He said, ‘You got a minute?’ We went up to his office. Last week, I asked him if he had a minute.”
Though he’s been impactful on defense, Bishop is expected to be demoted now that Sutton has been reinstated and he’s returned to the fold.
Bishop’s role will change, and there’s no telling how the Steelers will keep him involved. But he welcomes the return of Sutton, who’s been helping him learn and slow the game down.
“Cam has been helping me learn,” said Bishop. “To see the stuff he is seeing and trying to take a veteran approach to it. He’s seeing things I probably won’t because he’s been in the league for seven years. He’s helping me slow the game down. Ultimately, we win as a team, so I’m glad he’s been helping me.”
No matter what happens with Bishop, his story is a cool one. Going undrafted out of West Virginia and working his tail off to earn the starting role in camp is what football is all about.
