Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding a new face to their practice squad.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran linebacker Jon Rhattigan following his free agent visit with the team on Monday, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
Rhattigan, a West Point alum, has played four seasons in the NFL, splitting them between the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers.
The 6-foot, 236 pound Army product joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He was waived coming out of training camp, but he was re-signed to the practice squad and then quickly elevated to Seattle’s active roster.
Rhattigan played in 14 games as a rookie, with all of his 250 snaps coming on special teams. He recorded 10 tackles and recovered a fumble.
An injury in January 2022 prematurely ended his rookie season and also cost him most of the 2022 season, limiting him to just five games after being active from the PUP list on Dec. 10.
Rhattigan then played in all 17 games for the Seahawks in 2023, getting his first playing time on defense, as well as being a special teams regular. He played 301 snaps of special teams, working on all four kickoff and punt phases.
Waived coming out of training camp by Seattle in 2024, Rhattigan was claimed by the Carolina Panthers. He appeared in 16 games for the Panthers last season, setting a career high with 370 snaps. He was a five-phase special teamer for Carolina, also working on the field goal block unit.
Rhattigan played in all three preseason games for the Panthers this summer, including against the Steelers in Week 3. He was released in the final round of cuts last week.
Pittsburgh is thin at the linebacker position, after Mark Robinson chose to sign with the New England Patriots after being waived by the team.
The Steelers have five linebackers on their 53-man roster — Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison and Carson Bruener — but had none on their practice squad before the addition of Rhattigan.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Sign Former Panthers Linebacker
