Does a Myles Jack Reunion Make Sense for Steelers?

The Steelers and Myles Jack are both interested in a reunion. Jack un-retired earlier in the week and he cleared waivers on Friday after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Jack, who spent the 2022 season with Pittsburgh, was released by the Steelers in March. After being a free agent for most of the summer, and contemplating leaving football for a trade, he signed with the Eagles on Aug. 6.

Jack lasted just a few weeks with the Eagles, when he decided to retire from football on Aug. 20. When he did so, the Eagles put him on the reserve/retired list, retaining his rights. They decided to release him on Thursday, putting him through waivers. With Jack cleared, he is eligible to sign with any team.

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Myles Jack warms up before the Steelers play the Cleveland Browns, Sept. 23, 2022. — Alan Saunders / Steelers Now

But is a Myles Jack and Steelers reunion in the cards? It very well may be for several reasons, and it makes sense. Let’s get this out of the way. Jack did not play well last year. Some of that was likely due to a groin injury that hampered him all season. But that is not everything. Jack’s play went up and down throughout the season, but it ultimately led to his release. However, these unique circumstances have allowed this possibility to make sense.

For one, the team lost Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb for the season. But it now seems like the group is giving Mykal Walker and Mark Robinson a chance in a room decimated by injuries. But if that does not go well, Jack is insurance. The appealing thing about Jack is that he is young enough to have athleticism in his game and knows the system. More than that, Jack’s got experience running the green dot.

Why the Reunion Should Happen

Jack, 28, played in 15 games and made 13 starts for the Steelers last year. He led the Steelers in tackles with 104 last season, and also had three tackles for loss, three passes defended and one quarterback hit. He lacked the splash play element that this unit seems to have recaptured this year.

But as mentioned, he is a veteran who knows the system and can give you baseline play. Jack would not take long to get up to speed, provided he was in the system a year ago. Is this an ideal match? In this situation, probably, but there are no perfect solutions when two of the inside linebackers suffer season-ending injuries in consecutive weeks right after the trade deadline. That’s just unfortunate luck.

Jack needs to be in football shape for this work. He reportedly went to learn a trade after his retirement. In addition to that, Jack and his mother LaSonjia became the owners of the Allen (Texas) Americans of the ECHL, becoming the first African-American majority owner of a professional hockey team.

But if he is healthy and ready to go, Jack can boost the room. He may not be some savant that magically becomes the elite version of him that you saw in Jacksonville. However, does he need to be that? No, the team would need him to be insurance and servicable. So, yes, the reunion makes sense, given the bare market and the situation Pittsburgh is peddling at linebacker. It’s a move that should likely happen following the team’s game against the Browns if for no other reason than he checks off many of the ideal boxes in this tough situation.