Melvin Ingram visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday as a free agent and left with a contract, as the former Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher agreed to a one-year deal to help the Steelers bolster their depths at outside linebacker.
Ingram appreciated the atmosphere during his visit to the facility and meeting with head coach Mike Tomlin, Ingram told Josina Andreson of Undefined.
“It’s definitely a dope organization and environment, so I definitely feel like it’s the place for me,” Ingram said. “I met with Coach Tomlin. You can tell he’s very involved and a players’ coach. That’s what stood out to me. He wants to win and that is what I am on. My role is my role. He just told me to come in and be me. Everyone knows how I play.”
Just got off the phone with Melvin Ingram who is signing with the #Steelers (@rapsheet 1st): "I just did the deal not too long ago and just got to the airport. It’s definitely a dope organization and environment; so I definitely feel like it's the place for me." 1/2
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) July 19, 2021
Ingram will likely back up starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker for the Steelers, helping to reduce the impact of the free agency departures of starter Bud Dupree and backup Ola Adeniyi earlier this offseason.
A Hamlet, North Carolina native and South Carolina alum, Ingram had spent his entire nine-year NFL career on the West Coast in San Diego and Los Angeles before coming to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have not yet officially announced Ingram’s signing, which was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.