Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have invited Pitt safety P.J. O’Brien for a rookie minicamp tryout. O’Brien joins Pitt outside linebacker Nate Matlack as the second Panther to receive a tryout from the Steelers.
O’Brien played in all 13 games for the Panthers last season, starting three at free safety. He recorded 33 tackles, an assisted tackle for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. He had a season-high six stops with two PBUs against California. His interception against Syracuse was a key play in the Panthers’ 41-13 rout over Syracuse.
In 2023, the Pompano Beach, Fla. native played in 11 games, starting four at free safety. O’Brien posted 41 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble on the year. He had a career-high nine stops against Cincinnati.
In his first two seasons with the Panthers, he totaled 25 games of action serving primarily on special teams and as a reserve safety, totaling 29 tackles.
O’Brien announced in December that he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, joining fellow senior safety Donovan McMillon. McMillon also went undrafted, but he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent.
The Steelers will invite a number of players to tryouts for their three-day rookie minicamp, which will be held the second weekend of May at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Over the last few seasons, the Steelers have typically signed one or two players to contracts from rookie camp invitees. Among the team’s rookie camp tryout successes have been quarterback Devlin Hodges in 2019. Last year, vets Anthony Averett and Jonathan Ward made the team after trying out at rookie camp.
O’Brien is the 15th player to be revealed as a tryout, joining North Texas defensive back Ridge Texada, Pitt outside linebacker Nate Matlack, Rhode Island RB/WR Tommy Smith, William & Mary (Penn Hills) QB/WR Hollis Mathis, New Hampshire (Mt. Lebanon) quarterback Seth Morgan, Central Michigan (Thomas Jefferson) center Dom Serapiglia, Slippery Rock defensive back Eddie Faulkner IV, James Madison wide receiver Omarion Dollison, Notre Dame special teamer Max Hurleman, South Carolina linebacker Debo Williams, Arkansas safety Jayden Johnson, Lindenwood offensive lineman Gareth Warren, Ole Miss punter Frasier Masin and Rhode Island long snapper Donato Crisanti.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Invite Star Pitt Safety for Rookie Tryout
