Speedy Ex-Steelers RB Signs with St. Louis

Former Steelers running back Mataeo Durant is signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League, the team announced. Durant was a former undrafted free agent in 2022 with the team, and after he was released, he never caught on elsewhere in the NFL. He played with the Battlehawks in last year’s XFL.

Durant, 24, competed for a spot on the team during training camp, but lost out against other competing, such as fellow UDFA Jaylen Warren out of Oklahoma State.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Durant is as durable as a football player can be. Across his four seasons with the Blue Devils, he only missed four games. He appeared in 44 total with 12 starts and is the ninth player in Duke football history to have over 2,000 career rushing yards (2,562). He had 18 rushing touchdowns in his career.

Durant was also strong in the receiving game for Duke, amassing 55 receptions in his career for 488 yards. He had a combined 3,050 career all-purpose yards. In 2020 he was awarded the team’s Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award and last year was an All-ACC First-Team selection. In 2021, he also set the record for most rushing yards in a single season in program history with 1,241 yards.

Durant is another of many former Steelers players who are landing in the UFL to help revive their careers.