Revenge Game? Ex-Steelers LB Looks Forward to Matchup
The Pittsburgh Steelers head out west to face the Las Vegas Raiders in what will be the 4th consecutive season. The Steelers have been able to win 2 of the previous 3 matchups. On Sunday, a familiar face who has been on the rise will take the field for the Raiders. You might remember him from a memorable tackle on Derrick Henry in 2020. Mike Tomlin has a saying about nameless, grey faces. However, this particular one is former inside linebacker Robert Spillane. Spillane will certainly seek vengeance against his former team. On Thursday, Spillane was quoted expressing how this means a lot to him.
“Leaving them has only [added] to the chip on my shoulder…they had a chance to bring me back in free agency but I’m here now and I’m so thankful to be a Raider and I look forward to bringing it to them on Sunday.”
The Steelers haven’t solidified an answer at ILB. They have shuffled through names like Devin Bush, Myles Jack, Joe Schoebert, and many more last year. So far their offseason acquisition of Patrick Queen and 3rd round pick Payton Wilson has yielded mixed results. During his time in Pittsburgh, Spillane felt like the only piece that could somehow be relied on. It makes sense he feels a certain way about the Steelers not trying to get him back in the black and gold.
Spillane entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan in 2018. He spent his rookie campaign on the Tennessee Titans squad before his release in the 2019 offseason. He was scooped up by the Steelers and he never looked back.
Much of the 2019 season was spent on the practice squad, however he was eventually elevated to the active roster. He would contribute in special teams before he got his crack in the lineup in 2020. After Devin Bush was lost for the season, Spillane cracked the starting lineup and never looked back. He would go on to make 17 career starts for the Steelers the next three seasons. He totaled 191 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and a memorable pick-6 in his second career start.
Since joining the Raiders, Spillane has not missed a game making 22 starts to this point in the black and silver.
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