The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their preseason schedule last Thursday as the team suffered a brutal one point loss to the Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh dropped to 1-2 during the preseason, but the coaching staff was able to identify a good crop of young talent that may be able to make an impact on this roster almost immediately. The obvious players that are included in this category are the guys selected on the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft, but there were some other players that were able to prove they belonged on the final roster. This included running back Eli Heidenreich, defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio, and undrafted defensive tackle Kevin Jobity Jr.
Emilee Fails / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kevin Jobity Jr. (92) celebrates with teammates after a big play during the 2026 preseason.
The Steelers had a large draft class in 2026 as the franchise entered the event with 12 selections. Two of those picks were used to move around the draft board, so 10 players were selected by the organization. To many fans' surprise, all 10 of those players made the initial 53-man roster. It will be interesting to see if they can all stay on the roster for the remainder of the season, but many expected at least some of the rookies to be placed on the practice squad.
Jobity was the 11th rookie to make the team, and he made it as an undrafted free agent. He played his college football at Syracuse, and he had his best performance of the preseason when the Steelers traveled to Buffalo to play the Bills, which was a bit of a homecoming for the defensive lineman. He is from the Buffalo area, and he got to play against his childhood team to clinch his spot on the final roster. Brian Baldinger posted a voiceover of Jobity's film on social media, and he had nothing but good things to say about the player.
"He's their seventh defensive tackle that they kept, a pretty large number," Baldinger said. "But when you watch him play, he's always getting on the edge. That's where you want to rush the passer. That's where the OL doesn't have as much strength. But he looks like a Steeler. Just being a good mercenary. This is what kind of catches your eye right here. Rushes the quarterback, ball's thrown, get to the ball. He's the only defensive lineman that gets to the ball consistently. Good things happen when you get to the football. He keeps showing up."
Baldinger was impressed with Jobity's strength and his ability to collapse the pocket and rush the passer, which is something the Steelers have needed from the interior defensive line. However, even once the ball is thrown, Jobity is running to the receiver and chasing them down. That is impressive, and puts him in position to make big plays.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kevin Jobity Jr. locks hands with his teammates for a pregame prayer before a preseason matchup with the New York Jets.
It also makes Jobity a rarity as there aren't a ton of defensive linemen doing that in the NFL.
Steelers Fans Surprised By Kevin Jobity Jr. Addition
Teams usually only keep six defensive tackles on a roster going into the regular season, but Jobity's success during the preseason forced the coaching staff to consider him. His hustle was noticeable throughout games, and he was consistently getting to the quarterback. That is something the Steelers have needed on the inside as it will only help the stars rushing on the edge. He has a chance to become a great player in Pittsburgh.
He is going to be buried in the depth chart to start with, but hopefully he can find a way to earn some snaps. Pittsburgh should use a large rotation on the defensive line to keep everyone healthy and fresh, which would only help a player like Jobity who is toward the bottom of the depth chart. He and Rubio were a pleasant surprise up front for Pittsburgh.
What do you think about Baldinger's assessment of Jobity? What do you expect from the rookie in 2026? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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