After suspension, Steelers safety Damontae Kazee learned his tackling technique: “I definitely have to change it”

A three-game suspension at the end of the 2023 regular season convinced Damontae Kazee that he needs to change his approach to tackling.

Kazee was suspended for his brutal hit on Indianapolis’ Michael Pittman in a mid-December game, which sent the Colts wide receiver into concussion protocol. He was ejected and then suspended for charging a defenseless receiver with his helmet.

After returning for the Steelers’ playoff loss in Buffalo, Kazee spent the offseason reflecting on his tackling style and came to the conclusion that he needs to take a safer approach.

“I definitely have to change,” Kazee said Thursday after the Steelers’ sixth OTA session. “I have to. The NFL is changing, so I have to change with it.”

The league reiterated its stance on player safety in March when owners voted unanimously to make the hip-drop tackle illegal, another change designed to protect offensive players.

“They’re introducing new rules and you have to adapt to them,” Kazee said.

Players won’t put on their gear and start tackling until training camp gets underway in early August, giving Kazee the final week of OTAs and a three-day minicamp to work on his technique before the Steelers head into summer break.

“It’s tough for his style of play,” said Miles Killebrew, a safety and Steelers standout on special teams. “He takes it very seriously to throw his body into the game and be an effective tackling safety. Our margin for error (as defenders) is so small that it’s a learning curve for all of us.”

“For someone as exciting and energetic as Kazee, it’s going to be a process. He’s learning it, he’s doing it, he’s a professional and I have no hesitation in trusting him to get it done.”

When appealing his suspension during a hearing with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Kazee asked the league to provide video showing safer tackling techniques.

“The NFL is making changes to tackling, and it’s nice that they’re giving us more clarity,” he said.

Kazee’s suspension came at the lowest point of the season for the Steelers. Their 30-13 loss in Indianapolis was their third in a row and dropped their record to 7-7. All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game with an injury and also missed the final three games.

Although none of their three most decorated safeties were available – Keanu Neal had already suffered a season-ending injury – the Steelers relied on retrained cornerback Patrick Peterson and newly signed Eric Rowe to fill the position in the final phase.

Only after the Steelers unexpectedly won three games in a row and made the playoffs was Kazee able to return to the team. And that only happened when the NFL reduced his sentence by declaring him eligible to play in the playoff games.

While the Steelers won without him, Kazee spent the holidays with his family in California.

“It was hard, but I have two children,” he said. “I got to spend Christmas with them. I enjoyed it and made the most of it.”

Kazee came off the bench in the 31-17 loss to the Bills and played 20 snaps. One of those snaps came at a critical time in the game. In the second quarter, with Buffalo leading 14-0, Kazee approached Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who was battling for a first down. Allen hesitated as if he was going to slip, but then kept running. He bounced off a tackle attempt by Kazee and ran 52 yards for a touchdown.

“I was happy (to be back), but it slowed me down a little bit,” Kazee said. “I’m like, ‘How do I approach people now?’ … He showed me this false slide and I was speechless. ‘Should I take my chance?’ I don’t know.”

This confusion also extends to wide receivers like Pittman.

“Should I let them catch the ball or should I wait until he catches it and looks at me before I tackle him? A lot of things were going through my mind,” he said.

The Steelers made several changes to their secondary this offseason, the most significant being the signing of free agent DeShon Elliott to start alongside Fitzpatrick. Peterson, Neal and Rowe are no longer with the organization.

The Steelers could have also parted ways with Kazee. He is in the second and final year of his contract and the organization could save his $3 million salary if Kazee is released. On the other hand, Kazee has 92 career games and 62 starts with the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Steelers.

“He’s an energetic guy and it’s exciting to be around him,” Killebrew said. “He’s one of the better post players you’ll see in the league.”

Kazee never thought the Steelers would leave him, even though he’s been in the NFL long enough to take nothing for granted.

“Never,” he said. “If it happens, I know how to act. I’m a veteran. I don’t have hate in my heart. I just move on to the next thing.”