Ex-Steelers OL Signs with Commanders

The Washington Commanders announced on Tuesday that the team has signed former Pittsburgh Steelers center/guard J.C. Hassenauer.

Hassenauer, 28, spent four seasons with the Steelers (2019-2022). He appeared in 45 games and made seven starts during his tenure in Pittsburgh. He made five starts at center and two at left guard.

Hassenauer signed with the New York Giants in April of 2023 as a free agent, but his season ended before it even started. On Aug. 1, 2023, Hassenauer was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn tricep during a training camp practice. His contract was not renewed by New York.

The Steelers originally signed Hassenauer in 2019, after he had been playing with the Birmingham Iron in the AAF. He did not make the team that year but was re-signed to the club after center Maurkice Pouncey was suspended for his role in the Myles Garrett-Mason Rudolph brawl.

Pittsburgh Steelers center J.C. Hassenauer (60) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Hassenauer turned that late-season run on the Steelers’ 2019 practice squad into an opportunity for 2020, when he won a role as Maurkice Pouncey’s top backup at center. In 2020, he made four starts as Pouncey’s backup. In 2021, Hassenauer lost a training camp battle to rookie Kendrick Green, but came on and replaced Green late in the season, taking the job from the third-round rookie after his injury.

In 2022, Hassenauer backed up center Mason Cole and played in 46 snaps of offensive over 17 games. It appears that the Commaneers added Hassenauer for depth purposes, as they’re pretty solid at center and guard.

Hassenaue won two national championships in college with Alabama. He made only four starts with the Crimson Tide, but he did play in some big games, twice coming off the bench against Texas A&M and Mississippi State and making starts against Auburn, Clemson and Georgia in the Tide’s run to the 2017 College Football Playoff national championship.

The Steelers play Washington in Week 10 at Commanders Field.