Pittsburgh, PA – September 25, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers organization is grappling with heavy news off the field after one of their players revealed a deeply personal connection to the recent ICE facility shooting in Dallas. The attack, carried out on September 24, left one detainee dead and two others critically injured, with investigators confirming it was a targeted assault marked by anti-ICE messages carved onto shell casings.

For one veteran starter, the tragedy struck painfully close to home.

Strong safety DeShon Elliott, who grew up in Heath, Texas — just 25 miles from Dallas — shared that one of the victims was a childhood friend he grew up alongside. Currently sidelined with a knee injury but expected back in Week 5, Elliott spoke with deep sorrow about the loss.

“My heart is broken knowing that a brother I stood beside in childhood is now gone in this tragedy. I pray for his family, for Dallas, and for everyone affected. I promise to keep fighting — not just on the field, but off it — so that his memory will be honored and violence like this will not define us.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the team is offering Elliott full support, saying, “He is part of our family, and we stand with him as he processes this unimaginable loss.”

As Pittsburgh prepares for its Week 4 international matchup in Dublin, the absence of their veteran safety will be felt. Yet his words remind fans that players carry more than pads and playbooks — they also carry the weight of their hometowns, their loved ones, and the tragedies that touch their lives.