LATROBE, Pa. — While most of the focus of the Friday night practice was the high school stadium environment, some of the attention also went to a popular former Steelers player who was being recognized by the team.
Linebacker Arthur Moats, who recently announced he was retiring from the NFL, showed up to Latrobe Memorial Stadium to officially make it clear he considers the Steelers the franchise he wishes to be mostly associated with.
“I definitely loved Buffalo, loved the fans up there. But I feel like I grew up a lot more when I came here. I felt like it was only right to close the chapter here,” said Moats when asked why he decided to retire with the Steelers over the Bills, the franchise where he spent the first four years of his career.
Moats signed with the Steelers before the 2014 season. The former sixth-round draft pick was coming off what would prove to be the best single season of his career, totaling 54 combined tackles in his last season in Buffalo. Even though Moats would never again reach 30 solo tackles in a season, he proved to be an underrated addition to the Pittsburgh defense. His best season wearing black and gold came in 2015 with 35 total tackles and two fumble returns.
Moats plans to continue to pursue a career in media now that his playing days are over. He’s appeared on Steelers Nation Radio ESPN Radio in Pittsburgh.