Former Steelers WR Lands Back in NFL after Strong USFL Season

Deon Cain is heading back into the NFL. The former Steelers wide receiver has jumped around the NFL throughout his career, but after a stint with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL, he impressed enough to get another shot in the NFL. That comes after Cain won the USFL Championship game MVP after scoring 3 touchdowns on 4 receptions to lead the Stallions to their second straight USFL Championship.

In eight regular-season games with the Stallions, he had 16 catches for 182 yards and two scores. Originally a sixth round pick of the Indianapolis Colts out of Clemson in 2018, Cain has bounced around the NFL. A torn ACL cost him his rookie season with the Colts. In 2019, he was waived by Indianapolis, placed on the practice squad, and then signed by the Steelers.

Cain spent all of the 2020 season on the Steelers’ practice squad, and was elevated to the active roster twice, on Oct. 18 and Jan. 3, both against the Cleveland Browns. He did not have a catch in either game. He joined the Eagles last year but was released in October and signed with the USFL in March thereafter.

While it was not revealed which team Cain inked a deal with, his contract with the Stallion is listed as terminated / signing with an NFL team. So, it is obviously going to happen, now it just depends where Cain ends up going in the next stage of his career. He hoped that his championship game performance could be a leapfrog to another opportunity.

“Really just trying to keep going, keeping my best foot forward,” Cain said. “I was blessed with an opportunity to come to the USFL to showcase my talent.”

Now, he will start a little behind on a moving train and have to catch up before and during training camp. However, Cain has the experience in the NFL to back up some of his contributions in the USFL to tout to any team he is joining. That certainly will give him at least a leg up as compared to someone who would be going through this for the first time.