Steelers ILB Robert Spillane Signs RFA Tender for 2022

Linebacker Robert Spillane has signed his contract tender with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the club announced on Friday, which will keep him with the team through the 2022 season.

Spillane had been a restricted free agent. The Steelers tendered him a contract on March 15 to retain his rights. The team and Spillane could have attempted to work out a long-term contract, but instead he signed the tender for the 2022. The Steelers held the right of first refusal if Spillane had wished to negotiate with another team. The contract will pay him $2.433 million.

Spillane has spent the past three seasons with the Steelers, making 11 starts in that span. All 11 of those starts have come within the last two seasons after injuries to Devin Bush (2020) and Joe Schobert (2021) as well as inconsistent play from the two of them when healthy.

While with the Steelers, Spillane has 112 tackles across three seasons with two sacks, a fumble recovery and a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown. All of those splash plays came in 2020.

Prior to joining the Steelers he spent part of 2018 with the Tennessee Titans after signing as an undrafted free agent. He spent his college career with Western Michigan, being named 2nd Team All-Mac twice in 2016-17.

This season, he should be expected to be the team’s top backup at the inside linebacker position behind Bush and free agent signing Myles Jack, as Schobert was not retained.

Spillane, fellow inside linebacker Marcus Allen and quarterback Dwayne Haskins were the team’s three restricted agents. Haskins has already signed his tender. Allen has not yet.