Rookie safety Sean Davis was named the Joe Greene Great Performance Award winner by the local chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America this afternoon. The award honors the Steelers’ rookie of the year, and Davis beat out fellow defenders Artie Burns and Javon Hargrave, other members of this rookie draft class who have nailed down starting jobs in their first NFL seasons.
Davis, a second-round pick out of Maryland, became the first Steelers defensive back to start a season opener since Chad Scott in 1997 when he started at cornerback against the Redskins. He has since transitioned back to his natural safety position and has started at strong safety for the second half of the season.