Former Miami Hurricanes defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, ending a brief stint that never fully materialized for the ex-Miami standout.
Jenkins, a St. Petersburg native who starred at the University of Miami from 2012 to 2016, signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in early August to provide depth and experience in the secondary.
The 32-year-old appeared in all six of the Steelers’ games this season, starting once — in a Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals — and recording 15-16 tackles.
His role steadily diminished, however, as the team leaned on rookie seventh-rounder Robert Spears-Jennings and prepared for the potential return of DeShon Elliott from injured reserve.
For Hurricanes fans, Jenkins’ release marks another chapter in the journey of a durable ProCane who carved out a decade-long NFL career after developing in Coral Gables.
At Miami, the hard-hitting safety amassed 201 tackles, nine interceptions, and 19 pass breakups across 49 games (33 starts).
After redshirting in 2014 due to injury, he rebounded strongly, earning All-ACC honorable mention as a redshirt senior in 2016 while helping the Hurricanes reach the Russell Athletic Bowl.
Selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Jenkins went on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Cleveland Browns before landing in Pittsburgh.
He entered the 2026 season with more than 140 career games played and over 90 starts, along with 11 interceptions and more than 500 tackles.
His path from South Florida high school prospect to longtime NFL contributor has long been a point of pride for the Hurricanes program and its alumni network.
The move comes as the Steelers continue reshaping a secondary that has faced scrutiny early in the season.
With Elliott nearing a return from the knee and hamstring issues that sidelined him, Pittsburgh opted to part ways with Jenkins rather than carry the veteran into the international game against the New Orleans Saints in Paris.
Jenkins now returns to free agency in his 10th NFL season. For Miami supporters who watched him grow from a versatile high school athlete into a reliable professional, the hope is that another opportunity awaits for the longtime ProCane.
His career trajectory — from Coral Gables to multiple NFL locker rooms — remains a solid example of the program’s pipeline to the league, even as the latest stop ends sooner than expected.
