The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Wednesday that they have inked veteran linebacker Tyler Matakevich to a one-year deal.
Matakevich, aged 31, returns to Pittsburgh following a four-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills. Known as ‘Dirty Red’, he was originally selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Temple University.
Throughout his career, Matakevich has primarily made his mark on special teams in the NFL. He has accumulated 132 tackles and one interception across 129 games, including 17 appearances in the 2023 season.
During his initial stint with the Steelers from 2016 to 2019, Matakevich carved out a role as a valued contributor on special teams. However, the team did not re-sign him once his contract expired. He tallied 77 tackles in Pittsburgh, often stepping up when injuries depleted the team’s inside linebacker corps.
Matakevich joins a deep group of inside linebackers including Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Payton Wilson, and Cole Holcomb. There’s a possibility that Holcomb may not be fully ready for the start of training camp, potentially opening up opportunities for Matakevich to bolster the unit.
In a corresponding move to accommodate the addition of Matakevich on the 90-man roster, the Steelers have released safety Jalen Elliott. Elliott had been signed to a reserve/future contract following the season after spending time on and off the team’s practice squad in 2023.
The Steelers are set to commence training camp in Latrobe next Wednesday as they prepare for their first preseason matchup against the Houston Texans on August 9.
