The Pittsburgh Steelers are through the majority of the team's signings in free agency as most of the major weaknesses have been addressed. However, the franchise is still going to be looking for help on special teams and depth at certain positions. Some of that can be addressed through the 2026 NFL Draft as the franchise currently has 12 selections, but sometimes it is better to bring in some veterans to fill those roles.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks on as the team sets up in front of fans to work out at the annual Friday Night Lights training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh lost Kenneth Gainwell, Connor Heyward, and Miles Killebrew so far during the 2026 offseason. Gainwell is a running back who was the Team MVP in 2025, and Heyward and Killebrew were two leaders on special teams. The Steelers needed to find some depth at running back, while bringing in experience on special teams, and the franchise did that by signing running back Travis Homer on Monday.
The #Steelers are signing former #Bears and #Seahawks RB and special teamer Travis Homer, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2026
Homer should not be expected to make major contributions on the offensive side of the ball, but he should be expected to make the team based off of his experience and play on special teams. He has been the personal protector on punt for years, and he should be able to help on all returns and kickoffs. It isn't a splash signing, but it is a necessary one.
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Steelers' Travis Homer during his time with the Chicago Bears prior to the 2025 season.
Homer was originally a sixth-round pick that was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played out his entire rookie deal with Seattle before signing with the Chicago Bears during the 2023 offseason. He carried the ball some with the Seahawks, but was never the primary running back, and that became even more true with the Bears. Homer has played three seasons in Chicago, but has only carried the football seven times in total.
The back's lack of carries over the last three seasons should show that the franchise probably only sees him as a special teams player. His recent history, plus the fact that the running back room is pretty loaded in Pittsburgh already is telling. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle will lead the way, while Kaleb Johnson rounds out the room.
Steelers Could Get Good Value Out Of Travis Homer
Homer is an interesting addition and he has plenty of experience at the NFL level. He should be an important player on special teams, and his experience may also be valuable in the running back room. He will likely slot in behind Warren, Dowdle, and Johnson, but the experience he gained on offense early on in his career could prove to be important in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Travis Homer during his time with the Chicago Bears before walking out of the tunnel ahead of a home game.
The veteran running back had 10 total tackles during the 2025 season, and he also has experience returning kickoffs. Gainwell returned kicks for the Steelers in 2025, so he could replace him in that area. It will be interesting to see how he is deployed by Pittsburgh in 2026.
Homer should not be seen as a "lock" to make the final roster in Pittsburgh, but his experience on special teams gives him a great chance to do so. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers decide to draft a running back, as the room is now fairly full as mentioned. Warren and Dowdle are the clear leaders in the group, while Johnson can start to get some more opportunities on offense. Homer will be available on offense if he is needed, but that seems extremely unlikely. There is no reason to add a fifth body to that room, especially with Johnson needing to regain some confidence going into his second season.
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