The Vikings on Monday announced they have agreed to terms of a contract with cornerback James Pierre, who spent his first six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh signed Pierre in 2020 as an undrafted rookie. He has spent every season since with the Steelers, though he did join the Commanders for a brief stint during the 2024 offseason. After he was released during final roster cuts that August, he ended up re-joining the Steelers by way of their practice squad during Week 3 of the 2024 campaign.

Pierre played in 14 games last season, making five starts, and racked up a career-high 11 passes defensed. He recorded 29 defensive tackles, one interception and one tackle for loss; he also returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in a Week 11 win over the division-rival Bengals.

According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, Pierre last season allowed a completion rate of just 45.7% and received an 88.9 coverage grade. He also generated a 28.6% forced incompletion rate.

Pierre overlapped with Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores in Pittsburgh in 2022 and with new Vikings Defensive Passing Game Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander from 2022-23 and in 2025.

Here are five additional things to know about Pierre:

1. Florida Atlantic standout

Pierre played at Florida Atlantic University, where as a freshman in 2017 he logged 21 tackles and two pass breakups. The following season, those numbers jumped to 55 tackles and nine passes defensed.

Pierre recorded 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions during his junior season; among those takeaways were two picks against Western Kentucky.

Over his three-year career with the Owls, Pierre totaled 120 tackles, 15 passes defensed, 8.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions.

Longtime college and NFL coach Monte Kiffin — who spent time coaching for the Vikings from 1986-89 and again from 1991-94 — served as a defensive analyst and pro liaison at (FAU) from 2017–19.

2. Picked off his cousin

Pierre is a cousin of Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The two grew up together and played on the same youth football team, the Northwest Broward Raiders.

Pierre nabbed a one-handed interception of Jackson last season in the first of Pittsburgh's back-to-back wins over the division-rival Ravens.

Following the game, former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin highlighted Pierre's "veteran, high level of consistency."

3. High school & NFL connections

Pierre grew up in Florida and attended Deerfield Beach High School, where he garnered attention on the football field and was named one of Broward County's top 25 seniors by The Miami Herald.

Pierre shares an alma mater with a number of other NFL players, including former Vikings wide receiver Brandon Powell, as well as Jason Pierre-Paul and Jerry Jeudy.

Pierre has joined Powell and college teammate Devin Singletary to coach youth football camps in their hometown.

4. Grateful for family

Pierre is the second of six children born to his mother, Natalie, who had Pierre at just 16 years old. Despite facing challenging circumstances, Natalie raised "wonderful" children that included daughters Shavon (Army) and Nekia (Navy) who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In 2021, DK Pittsburgh Sports' Tom Reed wrote a feature about Pierre and his "whys" for pursuing NFL success. Those motivators included his mother, who "kept him from becoming another 'statistic' "; high school coaches who helped serve as father figures; and his youngest brother, Warren.

5. Competed at the combine

Though he didn't end up being drafted, Pierre did participate in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds, logged a 33.5-inch vertical jump, a broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches and a time of 7.02 seconds in the 3-cone drill.

View 2026 Free Agency Tracker.

See the Vikings 2026 Opponents.

Check out the Vikings 2026 Draft Picks.

View future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.