New Massive Defensive Lineman Explains Why He Signed with Steelers
In a recent interview with Ron Lippock of Steelers Takeaways, newly acquired Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale revealed why he signed with Pittsburgh in free agency. It really was a no-brainer for the Pago Pago, American Samoa native.
“I don’t think it was even a question when my agent called and told me the Steelers called him and wanted to sign me. Watching film on them when I was with the Patriots – I really like the scheme they use,” Ekuale said. “It fits with how I played with the Patriots. Striking hands – using those to get off blocks – that’s my style. A lot of teams don’t like their defensive linemen use their hands – they want them to just try and penetrate as fast as they can. And, I’m really looking forward to playing next to Hall of Fame players like Cam and T.J. [Watt}.”
Ekuale said Cam Heyward reached out to him shortly afters signing.
“Cam actually texted me a couple of days after I signed with the Steelers welcoming me to the team,” he said. “I was on the golf course with a group of my boys I have hung out with for years and showed them the text. I had goosebumps when I got it, knowing the player he is and how crazy it is.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin touched on the signing of Ekuale during his media availability at the NFL owner’s meetings last month. He thinks the 6-foot-3, 310-pound veteran could carve out a key role on the defensive line.
“This is a guy that really plays blocks and recognizes run schemes extremely well. I expect him to be an anchor point for us in that regard to control the line of scrimmage particularly in run down circumstances, and I think his resume really reflects that,” Tomlin said.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan also thinks the sky’s the limit for Ekuale.
“I like the group we have. We did sign [Daniel] Ekuale,“ Khan said. ”He’s done some really good things.”
Ekuale, 31, comes to the Steelers after spending the last four seasons with the New England Patriots. He was a full-time starter for the first time in his NFL career in 2024, starting 16 games for the Pats.
Ekuale finished the 2024 season with 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and one sack — by far the most productive season of his NFL career.
With the Patriots, he split his reps between three-technique and five-technique, which fits the traditional role of defesnive ends in the Steelers defense, and Ekuale could been seen as a replacement for recently released starter Larry Ogunjobi in the Steelers’ defensive rotation. The Steelers are also expected to be active in adding defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“New England preached good gap discipline – to not play peek-a-boo with the running back and allow them to find creases to run through. We need to play sound defense and hold our ground to let linebackers make the plays,” Ekuale said.
Ekuale got his NFL start with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad, before making the 53-man roster for the first time in 2019. He appeared in seven games for the Browns that season.
Ekuale was cut by the Browns in 2020, and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made his first career sack while playing in nine games.
In 2021, the Jaguars released him and the Patriots signed him to their practice squad. He spent his entire first season in New England on the practice squad, but was elevated to the 53-man roster eight times. After serving a two-game suspension to start the 2022 season, he played the remaining 15 games with the Patriots as a regular part of their defensive line rotation.
A torn biceps limited him to three games in 2023. Last season, Ekuale beat out Jeremiah Pharms for a starting role, and emphasized his pass-rush skillset in the dispersement of his playing time. But the new Pats staff re-signed the younger Pharms to a contract extension this offseason, letting Ekuale hit the open market.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Palm Beach, Fla.