Steelers Elevate Experienced, Hard-Nosed Linebacker

The Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated inside linebacker Myles Jack from the practice squad, the team announced on Friday. Jack will play his first game with the teams since his return in late November.

Jack was released by from the Philadelphia Eagles’ retired list before his return to the team and cleared waivers, allowing him to sign with any NFL team if he chooses to. There was immediate reported interest between Jack and the Steelers concerning a return to Pittsburgh.

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 linebacker Myles Jack at OTAs on June 8, 2022. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Steelers are reeling at inside linebacker, where they lost starters Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander in consecutive weeks to season-ending injuries.

Elandon Roberts and Mykal Walker started for the Steelers throughout the season, but Walker has struggled. The team tried Blake Martinez and Mark Robinson at different points, but nothing seemed to fix anything.

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.

A second-round draft pick out of UCLA by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, Jack spent six seasons with the Jaguars before joining the Steelers as a free agent in 2022.

Since his retirement, 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.