Steelers Release former Pittsburgh Maulers Draft Pick

Chris Ward |

Updated: Aug 27, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Jacob Slade — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Jacob Slade during practice on Aug. 12, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released defensive lineman Jacob Slade, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Slade had at least eight guys in front of him on the Steelers defensive line depth chart, so his release was not a surprise

The Steelers signed Jacob Slade to a reserve/future contract on Jan. 17, 2024. Slade came out in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. Slade earned several guarantees from the Cardinals when signing after the draft but was released following roster cut-downs in August. Slade was taken by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL draft that spring, but he never signed with the club.

The Cardinals brought him back as a practice squad player where he would be off-and-on the practice squad a handful of times throughout the regular season.

Jacob Slade, along with his twin brother Zach, committed to play their collegiate football at Michigan State despite being from near Columbus, Ohio. Slade enrolled in 2018 and redshirted but he did appear in 11 snaps on defense as a true freshman, recording one tackle.

In 2019, Slade rotated in at defensive tackle and played in all 13 games for the Spartans. He finished the season with 14 combined tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one defended pass. The following season, Slade started all seven games at defensive tackle during the Big Ten’s COVID-shortened season. He finished the year with 13 tackles.

Slade really took off as a redshirt junior as he played in all 13 games and started the final 12 of them at defensive tackle. He finished the season with a career-high 40 tackles, five tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two defended passes. He earned AP Second-Team All-Big Ten honors following the season.

Slade returned for a fifth season but was limited throughout the season due to an injury. Over his five seasons at Michigan State, Slade appeared in 42 games and started 26 of them as he logged 88 combined tackles, 11.5 sacks, four sacks and four defended passes.