Steelers Release Offensive Tackle Zach Banner

The Steelers have released Zach Banner from his contract on Wednesday, the team announced.

Banner tore his ACL against the New York Giants in 2020, and never got back on the field consistently for the Steelers. He dealt with complications from the knee surgery in 2021, and was then overtaken by Chuks Okorafor and Dan Moore on the depth chart.

In the 2021 offseason, Banner agreed to a 2-year, $9.5 million contract with the Steelers. He was slated to potentially start at right tackle. However, after the final preseason game, Banner’s knee flared up, and he had to get treatment. Banner was active for 7 games in the 2021 season but never started a game.

Over his three years with the Steelers, Banner played in 22 games. He started two games over those three years. Banner beat Okorafor out for the job during the 2020 training camp before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Banner was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, he was cut before the first game of the year and landed with the Cleveland Browns. Banner was signed by the Carolina Panthers before being waived before training camp. The Steleers signed him later that summer during the heat of training camp.

With the release, the Steelers will save $4.175 million but record a dead cap charge of $1.625 million. Banner is the first cut of the Steelers’ offseason cycle.