Moving Yahya Black To Nose Tackle Isn’t A Seismic Change

According to accounts from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff and beat writers attending spring practices, Yahya Black is playing nose tackle. New defensive line coach Domata Peko suggested Black could become one of football’s best nose tackles. It’s a different framing than a year ago, when Pittsburgh’s old regime viewed Black as a defensive end thanks to his height and long arms.

In that sense, there is a change. In practice, Black’s nose tackle journey began during his rookie year.

After Daniel Ekuale tore his ACL in Week 8, the Steelers had a backup nose tackle problem. There wasn’t much behind starter Keeanu Benton. The team reportedly attempted to trade for help but couldn’t find a partner. Brodric Martin-Rhodes proved ineffective. Black got the nod, essentially serving as the team’s backup.

Some stats, per our charting.

Last year, Yahya Black logged 65 snaps as a nose tackle in Pittsburgh’s three-down front. A whopping 63 of them, 96.9 percent, came in Week 8 or later after Ekuale was lost for the season (he went down on his first snap, giving Black basically all of that Packers game).

Here’s Black’s snap distribution in Pittsburgh’s three down front from Week 8 and on.

LDE/LDT: 66
NT: 63
RDE/RDT: 17

Over 40 percent of those came at nose tackle. He still logged time at defensive end, especially on the left side. The vast majority of that time was during Derrick Harmon’s three-week absence from Weeks 13-15. When the group was healthy, Black primarily served as a nose tackle.

Whether it’s old or new doesn’t really matter. The focus is on Black’s 2026 role. The more interesting question is whether Black will be just the backup nose tackle? Will he continue to play defensive end, or has Sebastian Joseph-Day assumed those snaps? Will Black push Keeanu Benton for starting nose tackle reps?

Black showed talent last year. He’s big, strong, a little more athletic than his frame suggests, and logged plenty of snaps to learn and grow from. How Pittsburgh uses and develops him will be key, as the Steelers count on second-year players like Harmon and Black to be anchors this season and beyond.