Former Steelers Draft Pick Signs in UFL
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Tre Norwood has agreed to a deal with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League.
The Steelers released Norwood as part of the team’s final cut down to the 53-man roster limit in 2023. Norwood missed most of the Steelers’ training camp and all of the preseason with a nagging right calf injury.
The team’s seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Norwood played a good bit between slot corner and free safety in his first two seasons in the NFL. The Steelers used him exclusively at free safety, where there was plenty of playing time available thanks to injuries to Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal and Minkah Fitzpatrick being away from the team, but Norwood was not healthy himself in order to take advantage.
Norwood appeared in ten games for the Steelers in 2022 as he recorded 16 tackles and no interceptions. Norwood appeared in the first nine games of the season and played over 30 snaps in four of those games. Norwood’s role diminished upon the arrival of Damonte Kazee in Week 10.
Norwood played 71 snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and racked up four tackles in the game while being targeted four times for two receptions. This was the game where injuries ravaged the secondary and saw the likes of Josh Jackson on the field. Norwood did not allow a touchdown while in coverage but had a 28.6% missed tackle rate in 2022.
During his rookie season in Pittsburgh, Norwood played 388 snaps as a rookie, which included as a starter at the slot cornerback position in the season opener at Buffalo. He also started in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at free safety in 2021.
Norwood’s most memorable play is his game-sealing interception against the Cleveland Browns in Ben Roethlisberger’s final home game as a member of the Steelers in 2021.
In his three years with the Steelers, Norwood recorded 61 total tackles (49 solos), two tackles for losses, four passes defended and one interception.
The San Francisco 49ers signed Norwood to their practice squad in September of 2023, but he was released on Oct. 24. Norwood then joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad on Nov. 7. He was released on Dec. 30.
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