The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly come to terms with yet another linebacker who played in the CFL last season as Kirk Penton of the Winnipeg Sun announced Friday that former Winnipeg Blue Blombers inside linebacker/safety Ian Wild has signed a futures contract with his hometown team.
The Blue Bombers announced last Friday that the club released Wild prior to the start of free agency, so he could explore opportunities in the NFL.
“Ian Wild is a great football player in every facet of what you look for, and we are not at all surprised he has garnered interest from the National Football League”, said Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters. “We wish him the best and thank him for his contributions to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.”
Wild, a product of Mercyhurst University, registered 73 tackles with Winnipeg last season. He is listed at 6’0″, 208 pounds. Wild was also a two sport athlete at Mercyhurst playing both football and lacrosse.
Wild was originally signed in 2012 as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills. The Bills, however, waived Wild just a few weeks after he was signed.
Due to him being undersized, several speculated prior to the 2012 NFL Draft that Wild would be best suited to play strong safety at the pro level as that was the position he played in college.
“I am technically a linebacker, but I’m playing back in coverage a lot of the time, playing like a defensive back,” Wild told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review last August. “Teams pass a lot more in the CFL.”
Interesting enough, Wild also long snapped for Winnipeg.
The Steelers previously signed linebacker Shawn Lemon, who played the last few seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
Ian Wild announces he has signed with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. #Bombers
— Kirk Penton (@PentonKirk) January 30, 2015
