Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Kyler Baugh has spent the beginning of his NFL career bouncing between the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers practice squads.
However, he seemed to finally do enough during the 2025 season to interest the Steelers enough into bringing him back, even with a new coaching regime taking over.
Baugh joined the Steelers last offseason after they were decimated with injuries along their defensive line. But that will make it quite an uphill battle for Baugh to make the roster again with everyone entering training camp overall healthy.
Of course, that can unfortunately change and quickly, but Pittsburgh’s defensive line was only further bolstered this offseason thanks to the additions of veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day and rookie Gabriel Rubio.
That isn’t even mentioning returning players Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Cameron Heyward, Yahya Black and Dean Lowry.
Nonetheless, Baugh has had to earn every opportunity throughout his football career, and the 2026 season will likely prove to be no different.
6-foot-2, 305 pounds, 24 years old, 3rd pro season
Acquired: The Steelers signed Baugh to their practice squad in 2025 after he spent the first year of his career with the Saints, Giants and Falcons.
Last year: Baugh entered the 2025 season with the Steelers, but he was waived as part of the their final cuts down to 53 players in late August. He signed with the practice squad shortly after but never appeared in a game.
Pro career: Baugh was an undrafted free agent out of the 2024 NFL Draft. He signed with the Saints and then jumped to the Giants and Falcons after his release, before eventually landing with the Steelers.
Baugh, a Talihina, Oklahoma, native, played his collegiate ball for Houston Baptist University (2019-21) and the University of Minnesota (2022-23).
During his time at Houston Baptist University, Baugh racked up 104 total tackles and five sacks in 26 games. He then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he had another 77 tackles and four sacks in 26 games.
Measured at the Minnesota Pro Day: 6-foot-3, 308 pounds; 4.96-second 40-yard dash, 33.5-inch vertical, 9-foot-5 broad jump, 34 bench press reps. He had a 8.56 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
Baugh is entering the only season of his one-year contract. He is set to earn $885,000 this year. He is scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent in 2027.
Baugh played football at Talihina High School. He did not receive scholarship offers, and instead, ended up at an FCS-level school, eager to prove he belonged.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Kyler Baugh Hopes to Not Get Lost in Steelers D-Line Competition
