Steelers Now
Newly acquired Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith reveals he envisioned ending his NFL career somewhere other than Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Steelers landed themselves another weapon on offense in tight end Jonnu Smith as part of their blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins on Monday. But the Pro Bowler recently revealed he envisioned ending his NFL career elsewhere.
“I didn’t foresee this happening with how the season went for me individually,” Smith said via David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out. I’m grateful. I’ve got no ill feelings toward Miami and nobody in the organization.”
Smith, 29, is coming off the best season of his eight-year NFL career. In 2024, he recorded a career-high 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, Smith was looking for a new contract as he was scheduled to make just $4.8 million this season. The Dolphins weren’t willing to give him that and the Steelers were. As part of the trade, Pittsburgh gave him a one-year, $12 million extension.
That has quickly changed Smith’s mind about where he’s playing his next chapter in the NFL.
“I’m in a situation where I’m appreciated,” Smith said on retired Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead’s podcast. “You always want to be where you’re most valued and appreciated, and that’s the situation that I found myself in with Pittsburgh.”
Smith will now have to prove his 2024 campaign was not an outlier, but he seems confident he’ll do just that reuniting with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh. The two spent time together with the Tennessee Titans from 2017-20 and then most recently with the Atlanta Falcons (2023).
Smith began his NFL career as a third-round pick (No. 100 overall) by the Titans in the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Tennessee before joining the New England Patriots for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 248-pound tight end then signed with the Falcons to reunite with Smith in Atlanta before heading to the Dolphins last year.
Smith has 307 receptions for 3,307 yards and 28 touchdowns in his professional career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: New Steelers TE Jonnu Smith Wanted to End His NFL Career Elsewhere
