With the offseason in full swing, and free agency a little over a week away, now is the perfect time for an update on what changes have taken place for the Steelers this offseason.
Two of the changes took place on the coaching staff, with Gerald Alexander named defensive backs coach and Scott McCurley inside linebackers coach.
Alexander is no stranger to the Steelers coaching staff, having spent two seasons (2022-23) as the assistant defensive backs coach with the team, before leaving to become the safeties coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.
In two years in Pittsburgh he worked with a secondary that recorded 36 interceptions, which was tied for second in the league. In 2023, the defense held opponents to a 84.7 passer rating, which was 10th best in the NFL.
In Alexander's first year with the Steelers, he worked with a secondary that was tied for first in the NFL in interceptions with 20 in 2022. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick finished that season with a career-high and NFL leading six interceptions while earning first team Associated Press All-Pro honors.
Prior to his first stint with the Steelers, Alexander was the defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins for two seasons (2020-21). Under his leadership, the defensive backs tied for first in the NFL in interceptions with 18 in 2020, while cornerback Xavien Howard had 10 interceptions and was selected first team Associated Press All-Pro for the first time.
Alexander broke into the coaching ranks on the college level as an undergraduate assistant at Arkansas State in 2013 and then a graduate assistant at Washington in 2014. He also spent time as a defensive backs coach at Indiana State (2015), Montana State (2016) and California (2017-19). During his time coaching in college, he held NFL two minority coaching internships, with the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016.
During his time at Cal, Alexander worked with All-Pac-12 defensive backs Ashtyn Davis and Camryn Bynum. Davis went from a walk-on to a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New York Jets while Bynum was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Cal also led the Pac-12 in and ranked second nation-wide with 21 interceptions in 2018.
Alexander also spent five years playing in the NFL after he was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Lions (2007-08), Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-10), Carolina Panthers (2010), Miami Dolphins (2011) and New York Jets (2011). He appeared in 44 games, starting 30, and finished with 154 tackles, 116 of them solo stops, 14 passes defensed, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two sacks.
Alexander, who is from Los Angeles, played college football at Boise State.
McCurley, who is a Western Pennsylvania native, spent the last five seasons (2020-24) as the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys and a total of 18 years in the NFL, 15 in a coaching role.
Last season, McCurley oversaw the Cowboys linebackers who recorded 22 of the team's 52 sacks, while Micah Parsons recorded a team-high 12 sacks for the season, becoming the first player since Reggie White in 1982 to record at least 12 sacks in their first four seasons. Parsons went on to be named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl Games in 2024. Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks led the team with a career-high 145 tackles, including three tackles for a loss, three sacks and a team-high three forced fumbles, despite missing two games injured.
Injuries caused some shuffling at the linebacker position for the Cowboys in 2023, but the unit responded. Second-year linebacker Damone Clark moved to middle linebacker and led the team with a career-high 115 tackles, including four tackles for a loss. Markquese Bell moved from safety to linebacker and finished second on the team with 103 tackles.
The Cowboys defense was ranked third in rushing touchdowns allowed in 2022 with nine, and ninth in opponent negative rushing play percentage (9.8%). Leighton Vander Esch started 14 games, finishing second on the defense with 100 tackles, while Anthony Barr had 61 tackles. Rookie Damone Clark also stepped up under McCurley's guidance, and after missing the first seven games of the season injured, he recorded 50 tackles and two forced fumbles.
In 2021, first-round pick Micah Parsons set a Cowboys' rookie record with 13 sacks, tied for third-most in NFL history, and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Vander Esch and fellow linebacker Keanu Neal also had strong seasons and were second and third respectively on the team in tackles.
In his first year with the Cowboys in 2020, linebacker Jaylon Smith lead the team with 160 tackles, ranking second in the NFL. The defense overall also forced 23 takeaways, seventh in the NFL.
McCurley first broke into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers where he spent 13 seasons in multiple roles. He started off in coaching administration (2006-08) before spending five seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2009-13). McCurley was the team's assistant linebackers coach from 2014-17 and in 2018 was a defensive assistant.
The Packers defense recorded 44 sacks in 2018, tied for eighth in the NFL, while Blake Martinez had a team-high 147 tackles. In his role as assistant linebackers coach, he worked with assistant head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss with the linebackers as a whole, with an emphasis on inside linebackers. Martinez led the team in tackles that season as well with 158, eighth best in team history. He also worked with Clay Matthews on his switch to inside linebacker,
McCurley, who was born in New Castle, Pa. and attended Mohawk Area High School, joined the University of Pittsburgh football team as a walk-on linebacker and went on to earn a scholarship after his red-shirt season. He was a four-year letterwinner (1999-2002) and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in movement science with a coaching minor. He spent three years as a graduate assistant at Pitt, before breaking into the NFL ranks.
The team signed veteran tight end Donald Parham Jr. to a one-year contract. Parham spent the 2024 season on the Denver Broncos practice squad, but didn't see any action.
Parham spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers (2020-23) and appeared in 47 regular-season games, starting 23 of them.
For his career, he has 67 receptions for 764 yards, an 11.4-yard average, and 11 touchdowns. He also appeared in one postseason game for the Chargers, finishing the game with four receptions for 23 yards.
In 2021 he started nine games, finishing with 20 receptions for 190 yards and three touchdowns. In 2023, Parham had a career-high 27 receptions for 285 yards, and a team and career-high four touchdowns for the season.
Parham played for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL before joining the Chargers, where he appeared in five games. He was the XFL's top tight end, pulling in 24 receptions for 307 yards, the third-most yards among all XFL players, and four touchdowns.
He played college football at Stetson University where he was first-team All-American his senior year when he caught 85 passes for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the FBS and FCS in all three categories for tight ends that season.
The Steelers also released linebacker Preston Smith, who they acquired via a trade with the Green Bay Packers during the 2024 season.
The Steelers signed 19 players to Reserve/Future contracts this offseason, some of them familiar faces while others are new to the Steelers roster.
Reserve/Future signings:
Defensive back Joshuah Bledsoe – Bledsoe was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth-round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Patriots, appearing in four games. Bledsoe played college football at Missouri where he appeared in 38 games. He finished his college career with 121 tackles, 88 of them solo stops, six and a half tackles for a loss and one interception.
Tackle Dylan Cook – Cook placed on the Reserve/Injured (Designated for Return) List before the start of the regular season, and returned to practice on Oct. 17. He was released on Oct. 31 and re-signed to the practice squad. Cook spent the 2023 season on the 53-man roster, but didn't see any game action. Cook entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent the 2022 season on Tampa's practice squad. He played college football at Montana where he appeared in 27 games, starting 23 of them, and was a two-time Academic All-Big Sky selection.
Defensive tackle Domenique Davis – Davis spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season. Davis originally signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He was out of the NFL for two seasons before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. He spent time on the Bengals practice squad and active roster during the past two seasons. Davis played college football at North Carolina Charlotte where he appeared in 31 games. He finished with 123 tackles, 51 of them solo stops, 15 tackles for a loss and six sacks.
Linebacker Devin Harper – Harper spent time on the Steelers practice squad in 2024. Harper was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in three games for the Cowboys in 2022 before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List. In 2023 he appeared in three games for the Cowboys, before being claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals. He appeared in six games for the Bengals last season. Harper played college football at Oklahoma State.
Running back Evan Hull – Hull was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent portions of the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the Colts practice squad. He played in two games, with one carry for one yard, and had one reception for six yards. He played college football at Northwestern where he appeared in 37 games. He had 488 carries for 2,417 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had 94 receptions for 851 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensive back D'Shawn Jamison - Jamison spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season. Jamison originally signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers and appeared in 15 games for the Panthers in 2023, starting two. He finished the season with five tackles, three of them solo stops, and one pass defensed. Jamison played college football at the University of Texas where he appeared in 60 games, starting 40 of them. He recorded 139 tackles, 109 of them solo stops, six tackles for a loss, 23 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one forced fumble.
Receiver Brandon Johnson – Johnson spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season Johnson was elevated for the Week 7 game against the New York Jets and the Week 8 game against the New York Giants. Johnson originally signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent time on the practice squad and active roster over the last two seasons. Johnson has played in 21 games, starting three, and has 26 receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns. He played in 13 games in 2023, pulling in 19 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson played college football at the University of Central Florida.
Guard Steven Jones – Jones originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon where he stated all 14 games his senior season at right guard for an offensive line that led the nation with just five sacks allowed for the second year in a row.
Linebacker Eku Leota – Leota spent time on the practice squad during the 2024 season. Leota was elevated for the Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Leota was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers following the 2023 NFL Draft. Leota began the 2023 season on the Panthers practice squad before he was signed to the active roster during the season. He appeared in eight games last season, mainly on special teams. He has three defensive tackles, and one quarterback hit. Leota started in the Panthers Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers this season, recording a sack. Leota played college football at Auburn, after transferring from Northwestern. He appeared in a total of 36 career games, starting 10 at Auburn and one at Northwestern.
Defensive back Cameron McCutcheon - McCutcheon originally signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft and has spent time with the team the last two seasons. He played college football at Western Carolina where he appeared in 22 games over two seasons. He finished with 79 tackles, 48 of them solo stops, four and a half tackles for a loss, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Receiver Lance McCutcheon - McCutcheon spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season. McCutcheon originally signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. He also spent time on the Houston Texans and New York Jets practice squads. McCutcheon played college football at Montana State where he appeared in 51 games. He finished with 94 receptions for 1,741 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also added one rushing touchdown.
Defensive back Kyler McMichael - McMichael originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent the 2022 season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad and also spent time this offseason with the Arizona Cardinals after they claimed him off waivers. McMichael played college football at the University of North Carolina where he appeared in 21 games over two seasons. He recorded 44 tackles
Guard Doug Nester – Nester spent the 2024 season on the Steelers practice squad. Nester originally signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Nester played college football at West Virginia where he appeared in 57 games, starting 52 of them. In 2023 he played in 12 games, starting 11, with 660 offensive snaps and didn't allow a sack.
Linebacker Thomas Rush - Rush originally signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent the season on the Titans practice squad and was signed to a Reserve/Future contract following the season. Rush played college football at Minnesota where he appeared in 58 games. He finished his college career with 86 tackles, 55 of them solo stops, 13.5 tackles for a loss, eight and a half sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Rush started all 13 games in 2022, recording 34 tackles and earning All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Running back Aaron Shampklin - Shampklin spent time on the 53-man roster and the practice squad during the 2024 season. He appeared in three games, with six carries for 17 yards in 2024. Shampklin was with the team throughout the offseason and through the preseason. Shampklin originally joined the Steelers when he signed a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2023 season. Prior to that he spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, and also spent part of the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys. He played at Harvard where he was a two-time All-Ivy League selection, leading the league with a 92.8-yard rushing average per game in 2021. He finished his career with 402 carries for 2,251 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Defensive tackle Jacob Slade – Slade spent the 2024 season on the practice squad. Slade was signed to a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2023 season. Slade spent time on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad after he was originally signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He played college ball at Michigan State where he recorded 88 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss, four sacks, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson – Thompson was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 10 games with the Dolphins over the last three seasons, including starting three, and throwing for 721 yards and one touchdown. He also started one postseason game. Thompson played college football at Kansas State where appeared in 45 games and completed 552 passes for 7,134 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Running back Jonathan Ward - Ward spent time on the practice squad and active roster in 2024, and had five carries for 22 yards in four games. Ward took part in the Steelers rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and was signed following it. In five seasons in the NFL, he has played in 47 games, carrying the ball 22 times for 91 yards, a 4.1-yard average. He also has six receptions for 52 yards, an 8.7-yard average, and one touchdown. Ward originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent two plus seasons with the Cardinals, before joining the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 season. He also spent the 2023 season with the Titans. Ward played college football at Central Michigan where he played in 42 games, carrying the ball 473 times for 2,539 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also had 98 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns.
Linebacker Julius Welschof - Welschof was signed originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft and spent time on the practice squad during the season. He started at defensive end for Charlotte but had his 2023 season cut short due to injury, playing in four games. He began his career at Michigan where he played in 35 games. In 2022 he played in all 14 games. He is from Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany.
