The Steelers have released offensive lineman Aiden Williams, the team announced on Thursday.
Williams, 25, was in his second season with the team, and had signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh back in January.
A former University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog, Williams signed with the Steelers after going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. His first stint with the team, much like this past stint, didn’t last long as he was waived and moved to the team’s practice squad in late August before being cut by the team entirely about a week later on Sept. 3, 2025.
After being released by the Steelers he found his way to Carolina on Oct. 1, but only spent a week on the Panthers’ practice squad as he was cut on Oct. 7.
While in college, Williams spent six seasons with the Bulldogs after joining the program as its first football player from Alaska.
After redshirting in 2019, he did not see game action in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared in five games in 2021 before earning a larger role in 2022, when he played in 10 contests and helped an offense that ranked among the nation’s top 20 in time of possession, rushing offense, passing efficiency, and third-down percentage. Following the season, he was named to the All-NSIC Second Team Offense.
Williams earned All-NSIC Second Team Offense honors again in 2023 while helping lead an offense that paced the NSIC and ranked seventh nationally in rushing at 243.8 yards per game. He remained a fixture on the offensive line through the remainder of his career, starting every game during the 2024 season and earning an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman with 33-inch arms finished his collegiate career as one of the program’s most experienced linemen, making 25 career starts.
Before arriving at the collegiate level, Williams was a multi-sport standout and honors student at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School in Alaska. A two-year starter under head coach Jeff Trotter, he played tight end, defensive end and long snapper while earning repeated statewide and regional recognition from the Alaska Football Coaches Association, KTUU-TV, USA Today’s Alaska Team, and the Cook Inlet Conference.
A total of 15 offensive lineman remain with the Steelers as the team looks to further develop their young group of talented lineman ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Williams was released along with long snapper Cal Adomitis, as the team signed defensive back Daryl Porter Jr. and wide receiver Joaquin Davis.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Cut Ties with Promising Offensive Lineman