Former Steelers DL Tyson Alualu Never Meant To Originally Stay In Pittsburgh: "The Best Decision I Made In My Career"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been known for their exceptional defenses. Part of what has made them so good is the franchise's ability to find diamonds in the rough and to get the most out of the players they acquire. Tyson Alualu was that kind of player. Picked 10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010, Alualu signed with the Steelers in 2017 after sliding down the Jaguars depth chart. 

Initially, he served as a backup to Cameron Heyward but got some starts when Stephon Tuitt was injured. He stayed with the team for six seasons and became one of their most underrated free agency signings in recent years. While he may not have been a star, he found a home in Pittsburgh and was a consistent presence on the defensive line when he was healthy. 

Recently, Alualu spoke with his former Steelers teammate, linebacker Arthur Moats, in an interview at Acrisure Stadium. He told Moats that he hadn't intended to stay when he initially came to Pittsburgh. 

"To be honest, I came to Pittsburgh only because my agent told me to," admitted Alualu. "Coming out of Jacksonville, I was looking to get a one-year prove-it deal, and they said Pittsburgh don't do that. Unless you're getting the minimum, they're not going to give you a one-year deal. So I came here thinking, 'Oh, I'm not signing here.' It was a whole different story once I walked in the building. My first meeting was with Coach Mitch [John Mitchell]. We left that meeting thinking this is a great coach to play for. This is the place I've been dreaming of since I was coming out of the league. I talked to Coach [Mike] Tomlin after that, and I didn't leave; I knew I was signing here for sure. That was the best decision I made in my career."

In 2021, Alualu was lured back to Jacksonville with the promise of more guaranteed money. However, fate intervened, and Alualu came down with COVID-19, rendering him unable to travel for 10 days to complete the deal. During his convalescence, Heyward launched a campaign to convince Alualu to stay in Steel City. Heyward was successful, and Alualu signed a two-year contract with the Steelers instead. He told Moats he was relieved. He'd always wanted to retire a Steeler. 

The Steelers found out just how valuable Alualu was in 2021 after the team lost Tuitt as his family grieved for his brother, who'd been killed in a hit-and-run. Unfortunately, Alualu broke his ankle early that season, and the Steelers' run defense collapsed. He would remain with the Steelers through the 2022 season as they transitioned to Montravius Adams. 

The Steelers Could Use A Tyson Alualu Now

The Steelers might have had the highest-paid defense in the league in 2024, but struggled against the best. According to Fox Sports, they ranked 12th overall for the season, 25th in passing, and sixth against the run. 

They performed pretty well for the first two-thirds of the season, but fell apart when it came to crunch time. Of course, it is fair to note that they played three of the best teams in the league in just 10 days, but didn't have an answer for those offenses. 

In their game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the defense could not get off the field. They allowed the Eagles to possess the ball for almost 20 minutes longer than they did, which included a more than 10-minute drive to end the game. In the Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens, they allowed them to rush for more than 200 yards. Christmas Day was more of the same, with Patrick Mahomes throwing at will against the secondary. It left Pittsburgh with more questions than answers this offseason.   

Are you surprised Alualu feels this strongly about his time in Pittsburgh? Tell us what you think below!

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