FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots’ 20 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium continues to generate discussion following a controversial collision involving Drake Maye.
The play occurred when Maye attempted a pass intended for DeMario Douglas that fell incomplete, appearing as though Pittsburgh had completed another necessary defensive stop.
However, officials immediately threw a flag after a Steelers defensive tackle continued to make contact with the Patriots quarterback after the ball had already left his hand.
That player was Keeanu Benton, a key piece of Pittsburgh’s defense and one of the Steelers’ most important investments in their long term plan.
Benton was called for roughing the passer, wiping away the defensive advantage created by New England’s incomplete pass and giving the Patriots an automatic first down.
Instead of having to continue from a difficult position near their own side of the field, Maye and the offense received additional yardage and a new set of downs.
It was an especially costly mistake for the Steelers in a game in which Pittsburgh needed its defense to quickly put the ball back into Aaron Rodgers’ hands.
The NFL has the authority to review plays like this after games, even when officials have already assessed a penalty on the field.
According to the NFL’s 2026 fine schedule, roughing the passer carries a standard fine of $17,911 for a first offense and $23,882 for a subsequent offense.
Notably, Benton received a new contract with Pittsburgh in August and was retained by the Steelers as part of their long term plans through the end of the 2030 season.
Reports regarding the agreement indicate that the extension portion of Benton’s deal is worth approximately $72 million, reflecting his increasingly important role within Pittsburgh’s defense.
The Steelers selected Benton with the 49th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft following his college career at Wisconsin, where he drew attention for his strength and ability to disrupt the pocket.
During his first three NFL seasons, Benton played in 51 games and started 40, recording 122 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles.
The 2025 season was his most productive year, as Benton recorded 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks, numbers that helped convince Pittsburgh to make a long term investment in the 25 year old defensive tackle.
But at Gillette, Benton recorded only three tackles and no sacks, while his penalty against Maye became his most notable moment of the game.
Under the NFL’s approach to conduct involving quarterback safety, late or dangerous contact can continue to be evaluated after the game has ended.
An editorial message modeled after the NFL’s safety perspective could be expressed as follows: “What happened to Drake Maye immediately after the ball left his hand is something we cannot ignore. There is a very clear line between a legal defensive play and an action that puts a quarterback in danger. When that line is crossed, the NFL will review the entire video and determine the appropriate disciplinary action.”
Importantly, as of this moment, the NFL’s publicly available disciplinary report has not confirmed that Benton has officially received the $17,911 fine for the incident involving Maye.
The Patriots ultimately secured a 20 3 victory in a game where New England’s defense applied constant pressure and prevented Pittsburgh from scoring a single touchdown.
For Benton, the play at Gillette now becomes a situation to monitor as the NFL updates its Week 2 disciplinary list, while the Steelers wait to see whether the mistake on the field will also carry financial consequences.
