The Pittsburgh Steelers have extended a right to first refusal offer to restricted free agent inside linebacker Robert Spillane, according to a report by Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
The right-of-first-refusal tender means the Steelers only have the rights to match another contract offered to Spillane, and would get no draft pick compensation if they do not match. Spillane can sign and play under the tender in 2022 or the side can work out a different contract.
Spillane has spent the past three seasons with the Steelers, getting 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. Schobert
While with the Steelers, he’s gotten 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.
RELATED: Spillane’s No. 41 a tribute to his grandfather’s legacy.
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.