Perspective Of An Average Steelers Fan: Pittsburgh Players Around The NFL

NFL teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers established their initial 53-man rosters and practice squads in late August. Teams will continue to add and subtract from their rosters, but here is a snapshot just before Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.

This time last season, I found 30 former Steelers on active rosters. Teams tucked away seven more on practice squads and placed four on a reserve list. During the season, several more former Steelers signed with teams such as Artie Burns and Darius Rush. So, this initial list will have changes throughout the season. This does not count players who appeared only on offseason 90-man rosters. Just 53-man rosters, practice squads and reserve lists after final cutdowns.

This year, I found 33 former Steelers on other teams’ current 53-man rosters. Fourteen former Steelers show up on practice squads and two on injured reserve. A few more will be added with free agent signings during the season.

Ex-Steelers Around the NFL

Here are the former Steelers appearing on active rosters, reserve lists and practice squads near the start of the 2025 season:

NOTE: Only former Steelers who appeared on Steelers’ 53-man roster or practice squad are included.

Former Steelers Out in the Cold

Here are 18 former Steelers who appeared on NFL rosters other than the Steelers’ last season but are currently not with a team:

2023 and 2024 Steelers Out of NFL

Finally, here are 27 former Steelers who appeared on Pittsburgh’s 2023 or 2024 regular-season roster or practice squad but are not currently on another team’s roster:

Conclusion

There is really not a single team with a lot of former Steelers on its roster like in previous seasons. Five teams have three former Steelers on their 53-man roster or practice squad. Former Steelers LB and first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has three, including two linebackers. The New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys are the other teams. For this exercise, I am defining former Steelers as those who have appeared on 53-man rosters or practice squads. I also include players drafted by the Steelers but who never made the regular-season squad (e.g., Chris Oladokun).

Just six NFL teams do not have a former Steeler on one of their rosters (active, practice squad, or reserve list). Down from nine in 2022. As of Sept. 4, 49 former Steelers appear on teams around the NFL. An increase of eight players overall, with a notable jump in practice squad players (7 to 14), suggesting more former Steelers are being retained as depth options.

Rosters are fluid, especially at the start of season. So, expect these snapshot lists to change as the season progresses. Let me know who I missed in the comments.

Your Song Selection

I always like to include a bit of music. Steelers fans loved some of these players. Others not so much. But once a player wears the Black and Gold, they are always a Steeler in my mind. We still miss you. But will appreciate those that are here all the same. Here is Miss You performed by the Rolling Stones.