Pittsburgh Steelers beef up the LB corps after reuniting with former fan favorite

When the Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp a week from today, they will be welcoming a new, yet familiar face.

Per the team, Pittsburgh has signed LB Tyler Matakevich to a one-year deal.

The man nicknamed "Dirty Red" is back where it all started.

Steelers Special Teams Get a Boost

A familiar face is returning to Pittsburgh as the Steelers signed linebacker Tyler Matakevich to a one-year contract.

Matakevich was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft, spending his first four seasons in Pittsburgh. He spent the last four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

In eight seasons, Matakevich has appeared in 129 games, starting one. He has 47 career tackles, including 31 solo stops, four passes defensed and one interception

He has made his impact mainly on special teams in his career, and it's been a significant impact, with 64 special teams tackles in his career.

In his last season with the Steelers in 2019, he was tied for the NFL lead with 16 special teams tackles, which was a career-high for him, with 14 of them solo stops.

Matakevich played at Temple where he appeared in 49 games and was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in 2015.

In a related move, the Steelers released safety Jalen Elliott. - Steelers

What it means

The move is somewhat surprising given the depth in the LB room. It further emphasizes the idea that LB Mark Robinson will be battling for a roster spot as both he and Matakevich have similar playstyles, though "Dirty Red" is one of the better special teams and old-school LBs in the league.

A throwback in every sense of the word, if Matakevich had a lengthier build and was more explosive, he would have been a first-round pick back in 2016 when analyzing his college tape and production.

In just four years at Temple, Matakevich recorded nearly 500 total tackles. An absurd stat, his 123.25 average tackles per year in college is unlikely to be achieved anytime soon, and maybe not in this lifetime. Yes, it was that impressive.

And that's how he's made his living in the NFL, as now Matakevich looks to head into his ninth season as special teams ace, back in the state where he played college ball and back in the city where he was drafted.