The Steelers signed linebacker Robert Spillane to a one-year contract.
Spillane stepped up in 2020 when the linebacker position was hit with injuries, stepping in for former No. 1 pick Devin Bush after he was placed on the Reserve/Injured List.
Spillane played in 12 games, starting seven, before an injury landed him on the Reserve/Injured List for the last four weeks of the regular season, before being activated for the AFC Wild Card game.
He finished the season with 43 tackles, 37 of them solo stops, two sacks, four tackles for a loss, four pass defenses, three quarterback hits and an interception and fumble recovery. He has his best game in a Week 9 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Spillane had his first career interception, picking off Lamar Jackson and returning it 33 yards for a touchdown. He also had a career-high 11 tackles, 10 of them solo stops, forced a fumble and had two pass breakups.
"He's a good kid," said defensive coordinator Keith Butler during the season. "We love him, and we think the world of him. He doesn't say a lot. He talks on the field like he should. He makes plays. He's in the right place at the right time."
Spillane was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans after a tryout during their rookie minicamp in 2018 and then added to the Titans practice squad at the start of the 2018 season. He was activated in season and played in two games for the Titans in 2018, however he was released midseason. He signed with the Steelers in the 2019 offseason, released before the season started, but brought back to the practice squad. He was activated midway through the 2019 season.
