Twenty-seven days out from MetLife Stadium, the Steelers’ No. 27 carries more than a number—it’s a thread through the franchise’s defensive and backfield lore. This year, Cory Trice and Trey Sermon are duking it out for a spot on the 53-man roster, with Sermon likely to see some preseason action while Trice battles a lingering hamstring issue that clouds his availability. The piece traces the lineage of No. 27 for Pittsburgh, listing the last five players to wear it and crowning Glen Edwards as the standout, a Steel Curtain centerpiece whose run of interceptions and two Super Bowl rings solidified the number’s legacy. The Jets game remains the marquee backdrop, but the countdown itself frames a brand-new chapter for fantasy evaluators eyeing Steelers depth and breakout possibilities in 2025.

No. 27’s history isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a lens on roster decisions that ripple into fantasy value. Sermon’s preseason work could hint at a future workload, while Trice’s health and roster trajectory may push or limit his ceiling in the cornerback corps. The long view—Edwards’ era of turnovers and ring days—gives a compass for how far this number can travel in a modern Steelers context. In short, the countdown isn’t just about a number; it’s about who earns the next 27’s opportunity and how that shapes fantasy targets on game days and in seasonal rosters.

For fans chasing late-round dart throws, the No. 27 storyline frames a tight race with subtle fantasy implications: Sermon’s burst and Trice’s health could tilt the Steelers’ backfield and secondary depth, while the Jets serve as a test bed for evaluation. Keeping an eye on the preseason rotations and any adjustments to the steel-curtain-era legacy will help fantasy managers gauge upside, roles, and risk as the season approaches.