Steelers Release Hard-Nosed Tight End

The Steelers have released former North Dakota State standout tight end Noah Gindorff from their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday.  He joined the team on October 4th when Pat Freiermuth first suffered the hamstring strain that would keep him out for an extended period.

Gindorff is a 6-foot-6, 263-pound rookie from North Dakota State. He originally signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, but was released on Aug. 17.

In his five seasons in Fargo, Gindorff was part of three championship teams with the Bison in 2018, 2019 and 2021. A leg injury limited him to two games as a senior in 2022. He was an FCS All-American in 2021, when he made 17 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns while the Bison went on to win a national title.

Because of his injury, Gindorff did not participate in athletic testing in the pre-draft process. The Steelers scouted him in person three times, at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, the 2023 NFL Combine, and sent director of college scouting Dan Colbert to his pro day at NDSU.

Gindorff is regarded as a premier blocking tight end but a below-average receiver. He does have one thing the Steelers always love to see: NFL bloodlines. His father, Mike Gindorff, spent time as a defensive tackle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings in the early 1990s.

The Steelers have three tight ends on the active roster: Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, and Rodney Williams. Jake Colletto and the newly added Scotty Washington will round out the team’s options on the depth chart at the spot. Gindorff was known for his blocking prowess but did not impress enough during his three weeks with the team to earn a long-term spot on their practice squad. Washington joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest in 2020 and spent two seasons in Cincinnati without appearing in a game.