Steelers Director of Football of Operations Kevin Colbert joined 93.7 The Fan for an interview this morning to talk about what has transpired so far during the first few days of training camp. Late in the interview Colbert was asked if unrestricted free agent Chris Hoke would be back this year and Colbert said, “We\’re working on him. Hokies a big part of our depth and he\’s a great part of our team. He\’s one of the favorite guys on the team. Everybody knows Hokie and the Hokie Pokie sack dance and all of that stuff. So, we hope to get Chris back in because he\’s a good Steelers and we really would like to have him back here.”
Hoke is a veteran nose tackle and has been the back-up nose tackle for years since making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He also can play some left defensive end as well when needed in the rotation and did so last year when Aaron Smith was lost for the season with his biceps injury. Hoke has noted previously that he wants to return as well and the Steelers have really been making a strong effort to re-sign their own veteran free agents since the lockout ended. It would not be surprising to see Hoke signed sometime over the course of this week to a one-year deal.
