NFL Rumors: Cook-Hopkins dream team, Bijan Robinson’s spicy take, Steelers add more hometown talent
By Kristen Wong
NFL Rumors: Steelers bring in hometown kid to help fill defensive need
The Pittsburgh Steelers love signing homegrown players as much as they love signing brothers.
On Tuesday, the Steelers announced they were inking linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to a one-year deal after bringing him in for a tryout during minicamp.
The Pittsburgh native played football at Bethel Park High School and was drafted in the fourth round by the Bears. Kwiatkoski bounced around the league as a part-time starter, usually stepping into rotational roles on linebacker-needy teams. After short stints on the Raiders and Falcons in the last two years, he’ll join the Steelers this summer and try to make a more consistent impact in the defense.
Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, a Pittsburgh native, is signing a one-year deal with the #Steelers, per source. Has 293 career tackles and was last with Atlanta.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 20, 2023
Kwiatkoski has only played 34 games in his seven-year NFL career with his best season arguably being 2019 when he posted 76 tackles and three sacks for the Bears.
Getting signed by his childhood team could be the spark he needs to grow into a dependable starter, but Kwiatkoski faces stiff competition against younger and more talented Steelers defenders.
Can the hometown kid turn into the comeback kid this upcoming season?
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