On the Other Side: Former Ravens OLB Jeremiah Moon Hopes to Crack Steelers Rotation
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jeremiah Moon is hoping to crack the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker rotation in 2024.
Even if it was not completely under his own control, Jeremiah Moon took a route that few have traveled in route to his spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers. That route is coming from the Baltimore Ravens and straight to the Steelers. While Moon was technically a Steeler first, he follows his Raven teammate, Patrick Queen to the Steelers defense.
Entering just his third season, Moon never experienced something like the waivers process as he was one and off of the Ravens practice squad over his first two seasons. Moon is not sweating the small things, like his move to Pittsburgh, as he is just taking things one day at a time.
“I have never been put into a situation [like that] before, obviously, this is only my second team,” Moon told Alan Saunders of Steelers Now. “You know, when things happen, you just got to take it one day at a time, get your head together and figure it out. I know I am supposed to be here.”
The Steelers claimed Moon off of waivers in January and Queen followed up with signing with the Steelers at the start of free agency. Now in Pittsburgh, Moon has a familiar face and a friend around to continue to work with.
“Seeing PQ [Patrick Queen] getting signed, I love PQ,” Moon said. “He is a hard worker, good teammate, good friend so that was exciting to see him come this way.”
While the Steelers and Ravens are in-division rivals, Moon stated that both are respected organizations and that they “both are hard-nosed organizations.”
As Moon leaves one “hard-nosed” organization for another, he came to the Steelers ready to learn, not only from T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, but anybody that is willing to give him some tips.
“I am learning from everybody here,” Moon said. “Coming from a different place, you got different people [around the room,] so you just pick up on different things from different people. I think that has been the best part, you know, obviously learning from T.J. [Watt] and Alex [Highsmith], those vet guys has been amazing. They got a lot of game experience and they are both great players.”
While Moon played on a respectable Ravens defense, he is log-jammed behind two of the league’s best pass rushers and second-year guy Nick Herbig. His best chance to make the roster is if he can play special teams which he did in Baltimore. In 2023, Moon played 142 snaps on special teams.
“I know I can play special teams,” Moon stated. “I know that I can contribute in anyway that they want me to so I am just ready when my number is called.”
While he knows that he is behind a couple of guys on the depth chart, Moon is ready to keep giving it his all and is ready for whatever happens come September.
“I am just coming in here everyday giving it my all,” Moon said. “Whatever happens, happens. That is how you got to take it when you are in this league.”
49 • Jeremiah Moon, Outside Linebacker, Florida
6-foot-5, 247 pounds, 25 years old, 3rd Season
Acquired: The Steelers claimed Jeremiah Moon off of waivers from the Baltimore Ravens in January and officially signed him to a new contract in February.
Last season: After spending his first NFL season on essentially a redshirt, Jeremiah Moon was signed to a future contract for 2023, and again played in the preseason, was released and added to the practice squad.
The difference being, last year, Moon was elevated to the active roster on Sept. 23. He was active for four games, starting one and playing on both defense and special teams. Moon was waived on Oct. 26 and returned to the practice squad, but was brought back to the active roster on Jan. 6.
In total, he played in eight games and recorded 12 tackles, one for a loss and forced two fumbles while serving as depth behind starters Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. He played 99 defensive snaps and 142 special team snaps.
Career: After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Ravens signed Jeremiah Moon to as an undrafted free agent. Moon played with the Ravens in the preseason in 2022, but was released and added to practice squad, where he spent his entire rookie season without being elevated for a game.
| Year | GP | GS | Tackles | Sacks | FFs | DEF Snaps |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 99 |
College: Jeremiah Moon’s collegiate career was not sunshine and rainbows. Missing the better part of two seasons due to injuries and another due to COVID-19, Moon played in three true seasons for the Gators. After redshirting due to injury in 2016, he was a part-time starter in 2017 and 2018. Then, he moved to defensive line in 2019, starting eight games before another season-ending injury. He played only four games in a COVID-19-shortened 2020 before returning to linebacker in 2021.
Th 2021 season was his best year statistically in college. Moon racked up 49 tackles, 3.5 for loss, two sacks a forced fumble and a pass breakup as a sixth-year senior.
| Year | GP | Tackles | Sacks | TFLs | FFs | INTs |
| 2016 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 10 | 23 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 31 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 9 | 31 | 3 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 49 | 2 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 |
Salary cap and future: After being claimed off of waivers by the Steelers, Jeremiah Moon and the team worked out a new contract. Moon is signed through the end of this season. If he makes the team, Moon will cost $915,000 against the cap space.
None of his deal is guaranteed which means if the Steelers decide to release him, they will not face any dead money penalties.
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