Steelers CB Beanie Bishop Explains What Neal Brown Means to Him

It’s no surprise that Beanie Bishop feels he owes a lot of his success to Neal Brown, but the Steelers rookie cornerback didn’t stop there when detailing what the now former WVU coach means to him.

WV Sports Now was able to obtain quotes of what Bishop said in front of his locker on Wednesday when asked for his reaction to West Virginia firing Brown on Sunday. 

“Obviously it’s devastating, especially for the players. I’m grateful for him for giving me an opportunity to have a shot at making it pro to the NFL and going to West Virginia, and the impact that he has on guys, not only on the field but off the field as well. Guys aren’t going to forget that,” said Bishop, who became a consensus All-American for his lone season as a Mountaineer.

Bishop doesn’t know what exactly went wrong and why the 2024 team wasn’t able to continue the success he helped usher in during the 2023 season, a year WVU won nine games and Brown was able to earn another year.

“Man, they have high expectations in Morgantown. I guess you gotta win a certain amount of games and things like that, you know, have good seasons. I don’t really know what all goes into those decisions, but people want to have championships and things like that, especially with the College Football Playoff thing. That could be it but I don’t know. That was my coach and I love him.”

And as Bishop is enjoying success and Brown’s future is uncertain, the NFL rookie made it clear he will always appreciate his former coach no matter what.

Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

“Just development, more as a man. He believed in me when other coaches didn’t believe in me. He let me be myself. And the rest of the other players, he didn’t expect them to change. And if he wanted them to change, it was for the better.”

Bishop currently 36 total tackles, a half of a sack and three interceptions so far in 11 NFL games. He even gained an autograph football for a couple of his picks from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

He recorded 67 tackles and four interceptions in 2023 under Brown at WVU. The Steelers then signed Bishop as an undrafted free agent.

Alan Saunders of WV Sports Now’s partner Steelers Now helped with reporting for this story.

Find more coverage of Beanie Bishop at WV Sports Now.