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Steelers All 90: DL Stephon Tuitt

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All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.

91 • Stephon Tuitt, eighth-year defensive end
6-foot-6, 303 pounds

Acquired: Selected by the Steelers with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Last season: Returned from injury in 2019 to put up his most productive season as a pro. Tuitt started the first 15 games before being held out of the regular season finale at Cleveland.

He finished with 45 tackles, and set career highs with 10 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and 11 sacks. He also forced two fumbles and batted down three passes.

Career: Tuitt quickly became a valued contributor to the Steelers defensive line, making 14 starts in his second season in 2015, while putting up 6.5 sacks.

Tuitt has dealt with a string of minor injuries, and has never played a full season, starting 14 games in 2015, 2016 and 2018, 12 games in 2017 and just six in 2019 after tearing his pec in Week 6.

College: Tuitt was a two-year starter at Notre Dame, with his best season coming in 2012, when he won All-America honors after recording 12 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He dealt with a hernia injury in between his junior and senior seasons but returned for 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2013.

Camp outlook: Tuitt’s role with the Steelers is firmly entrenched, as he’ll once again start alongside Cam Heyward at defensive end in the base 3-4 alignment and at tackle in the team’s 2-4 Nickel defense.

Tuitt dealt with a personal tragedy this offseason in the June death of his younger brother, who was killed in a hit-and-run vehicle-pedestrian accident. Tuitt missed minicamp to be with his family, but is expected to be able to participate in most of training camp.

Future: Tuitt’s contract runs through the end of the 2022 season, after which he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time.

The rest of the 90: