PITTSBURGH — The end came quickly in Cleveland for Joe Haden, a stark reminder that the NFL is a business. The Browns were rebuilding again in the summer of 2017, and having a cornerback in his late 20s making eight figures didn’t exactly fit the plan, fiscally or otherwise.

For the first time in his football life, Haden felt adrift.

The two-time Pro Bowler understood his final two seasons in Cleveland were marred by injury and inconsistent play.

Still, getting cut loose — even a split as amicable as the one between Haden and the Browns — thrust his long-range plans into serious jeopardy.

“When I first got in the league I was thinking I’d play 15 years,” Haden said.

Less than halfway there, Haden was willing to settle for just one more to prove something to Cleveland and — if he’s being honest — himself too.

Funny how things work out. Fast forward 14 months and Haden finds himself the linchpin of Pittsburgh’s revamped secondary. The 29-year-old is in a sweet spot of sorts. The speed that helped make him the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft is still there, joined by the smarts accumulated from nearly a decade shadowing the league’s best receivers.

“Joe’s athletic ability is still pretty sharp,” defensive backs coach Tom Bradley said. “Mentally he gets better as time goes on. I think he understands what people are trying to get done.”

While the first-place Steelers remain very much a work in progress heading into Sunday’s visit from the Browns (2-4-1) — particularly at the cornerback spot opposite Haden, where Artie Burns, Coty Sensabaugh and Cam Sutton remain in a rotation until one of them takes firm ownership of the position — Haden’s steadying presence has provided a much-needed lift.