MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Former WVU defensive back Beanie Bishop was named the NFL's Rookie Defensive Player of the Month yesterday.
 
Bishop picked off two Aaron Rodgers passes in Pittsburgh's 37-15 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 20, and followed that up with a game-sealing pick in the Steelers' 26-18 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
 
"Can't say enough about young Beanie Bishop," coach Mike Tomlin said after Pittsburgh's victory over the Jets. "That's an awesome evening for him to get his first two interceptions versus a Gold Jacket guy like Aaron Rodgers.
 
"He's grown in all areas, there's a lot to cover when you're a rookie, but the one thing I'll say about him is he never shrinks," Tomlin said. "The situations aren't too big for him, and he's learned and he's open to learning. He has good questions. I meet with him every Friday morning as we lean in on situational ball. He's doing a lot of the little things well. He's on a good trajectory."
 
The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder has been the team's starting nickel since the beginning of the season, the undrafted rookie free agent taking advantage of veteran slot cornerback Cam Sutton's eight-game suspension which will end when Pittsburgh plays at Washington on Sunday, Nov. 10.
 
Bishop became West Virginia's 13^th consensus All-American in school history in 2023 during his one season playing for the Mountaineers after transferring from Minnesota.
 
The Louisville, Kentucky, native led the nation with 24 passes defended and 20 pass breakups while ranking 19^th nationally with four interceptions for West Virginia last year.