The Pittsburgh Steelers just completed the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, making some selections to help round out the roster. Now the team has its sights set on offseason activities and will look to find success under new head coach Mike McCarthy. The franchise made some intriguing moves in the draft, including the selection of quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the draft. The organization will now hope to forge ahead with McCarthy in his inaugural season as the head coach in the Steel City in 2026. It moved further in that direction on Sunday with a veteran signing.
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Steelers defensive lineman Dean Lowry walking on the field at the team practices during 2024 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
On Sunday, it was announced that the team was bringing back veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Lowry re-joins a unit that will see the addition of Sebastian Joseph-Day, who the organization signed during the 2026 offseason, among other moves.
Lowry comes back to a team that was praised for a great offseason and even added to the position he will play at defensive line. While Joseph-Day provides a big presence up front, Lowry adds depth to the roster as he returns to the Black and Gold.
Pittsburgh brings back Lowry on top of a defensive line that features Derrick Harmon, Cam Heyward, and Keeanu Benton. The defensive line is stacked with behemoths at the position, so bringing Lowry back adds depth there in case of any injuries. In his nine years in the NFL, Lowry has compiled one interception, one forced fumble, and five fumble recoveries.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Have Good Depth On Defensive Line
The Steelers have great depth at the defensive line position. With the aforementioned players, bringing Lowry back gives them a chance to catch breathers during games in the upcoming season. While Lowry is not exactly an impact player, he provides a big and physical presence, standing at 6'6" and 296 pounds. Pittsburgh made great moves on both sides of the football in the offseason, and added to it in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Lowry may not have the stats that jump out at someone, his presence alone provides the benefit of giving the bigger named players some relief on the field. Lowry's best season came in 2017, with a fumble recovery for 62 yards and a touchdown on it. While he may not have the reputation of an impact player, his size alone can make a difference while on the field.
Jeffrey Phelps / AP
Former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Dean Lowry during a cold weather game
The team features a heavy presence on its defensive front, especially Harmon who they drafted in 2025 with the 21st overall pick. Lowry's return gives them depth at the position, so that guys like Harmon and others can get a breather during opposing teams offensive drives. While this move is not exactly the splash the Steelers made this offseason, it will provide some much-needed depth on the defensive side of the ball.
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