Rewards, like turnovers, come in bunches for Steelers 'black belt' rookie CB Beanie Bishop

Beanie Bishop Jr. knows nothing about his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers has come by accident, even if it requires the rookie slot cornerback to adjust on the fly when a pass is tipped.

So the importance of his interception of a Daniel Jones pass deflected by Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with 34 seconds remaining wasn’t lost on Bishop, given it clinched the 26-18 win over the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football” at Acrisure Stadium.

“It’s phenomenal,” Bishop told TribLive on Wednesday. “Just being able to go out there and play on Sunday nights and Monday nights and have the whole world watching and be able to seal a game, it’s great.”

It was Bishop’s third career interception, with all of them coming in the past two games. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound undrafted free agent from West Virginia had a pair of picks off Aaron Rodgers that led to the Steelers scoring touchdowns in a 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Oct. 20, when he also had six tackles, including one for a loss.

“When I get my turnovers,” Bishop said, “they come in bunches.”

So do the rewards, as Bishop was honored Thursday by being named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.

No wonder Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Bishop is “on an upward trajectory.” His timing couldn’t have been better, given that veteran slot cornerback Cam Sutton was reinstated from an eight-game suspension in time for the Nov. 10 game at the Washington Commanders and could cut into Bishop’s playing time.

Before Bishop learned of his hardware, he was reveling in what he received from Steelers coaches. Bishop earned what he called his “black belt,” the result of a T-shirt program as a prize for the defense’s emphasis on creating turnovers. Players get a different color shirt for turnovers: gold for one, gray for two and black for three or more.

Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin credited the T-shirts, which have “The Culture” printed on the front and “I’m in the Zone” on the back, as the brainchild of Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown to create the incentives for making game-changing plays.

“It’s fun to do little things to see what these guys will do for takeaways,” Martin said. “We like that college-type feel to where we’re doing it for something. … It’s just a fun little thing we’ve got going. The guys buy into it. You see it showing up on the field.”

With three turnovers, Bishop is one of three players who can call themselves a “black shirt,” joining four-time All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who has four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and cornerback Donte Jackson, who also has three interceptions.

“Beanie’s making a good little comeback,” Porter said.

Beanie Bishop Jr. with the INT to seal the @steelers win! pic.twitter.com/YS8hN3dZM1

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2024

Bishop said he prides himself on his takeaways and said he told outside linebacker Alex Highsmith before the Giants’ final drive that he was going to going to make a decisive play. Bishop had his sights on Jones’ pass intended for running back Devin Singletary, but Porter broke up the pass before it bounced into Bishop’s arms at the Steelers’ 29.

Since a rough game against the Dallas Cowboys, when he was targeted eight times and allowed six receptions for 90 yards, Bishop has spent time watching film with Mike Tomlin and is starting to sound like the Steelers coach when he talks about the keys to playing his position.

“Just make the plays that come to you. Just do the routine things routinely,” Bishop said. “That’s really the biggest thing, just making sure you play the right assignment, and the ball will find you. Honestly, I’m not trying to go out of my way to make plays. Being where I’m supposed to be, the ball will find me.”