The Pittsburgh Steelers revealed on Wednesday that they had re-signed veteran linebacker Tyler Matakevich to a one-year deal. Following a four-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills, Matakevich, 31, is back in Pittsburgh. In the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Matakevich, a Temple graduate known by the nickname “Dirty Red.”
Despite rarely playing linebacker defense during his career, he has developed into one of the NFL’s top special teams. With one interception, he has recorded 132 tackles. Including 17 in 2023, Matakevich has participated in 129 games. From 2016 to 2019, Matakevich was a valuable member of the Steelers’ special team. However, when his contract expired, the organization was unable to keep him.
Throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh, he recorded 77 tackles, frequently needing to step up when injuries struck the team’s inside linebacker corps hard. Matakevich joins a group of excellent inside linebackers that is led by Cole Holcomb, Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, and Payton Wilson. Matakevich might bolster the squad in preparation for the upcoming days, as Holcomb might not be prepared for the start of training camp.
In line with that, the Steelers cut safety Jalen Elliott from the 90-man roster. Elliott had been on and off the team’s practice squad in 2023 before being signed to a reserve/future deal at the end of the season. In order to get ready for their opening preseason game, the Steelers will report to training camp in Latrobe on Wednesday. which on August 9 will take place against the Houston Texans.
