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The Pittsburgh Steelers made a move to strengthen their linebacker depth by signing veteran linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, the team announced on Tuesday.
The signing comes after Kwiatkoski participated in a tryout with his hometown team, marking a special moment for the Pittsburgh-area native.
Kwiatkoski, originally drafted by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, brings with him seven years of NFL experience, having spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears from 2016 to 2019 before moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders from 2020 to 2021 and briefly playing for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.
The Steelers’ decision to sign Kwiatkoski reflects their desire to strengthen their inside linebacker position, providing valuable depth behind the expected starters, Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, both of whom were acquired through free agency.
Kwiatkoski played in 89 career games, starting 34 of them, he recorded 293 tackles, 7 sacks, 12 passes defended and 2 interceptions.
In addition to the signing of Nick Kwiatkoski, the Steelers also made changes in their receiving corps by releasing wide receiver Anthony Miller.
Miller, who was a second-round pick by the Bears in the 2018 NFL Draft, had a challenging time last season due to a shoulder injury sustained during training camp and will now look to join a new team.