The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought a familiar and battle-tested presence back into the fold. On August 12, veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts agreed to a one-year contract with the team, reuniting him with an organization that already knows his value firsthand.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news.
Roberts, now 32, returns after spending the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Before that one-year detour, he had established himself as a reliable starter in Pittsburgh during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
In his first season with the Steelers, he started 15 games and posted career-high production with 101 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He followed that up with another solid year in 2024, proving he could still deliver physical, high-effort play in the middle of the defense.
Those two seasons left a clear impression: Roberts fits the Steelers’ identity of toughness and dependability.
This latest chapter also carries the weight of championship experience. Roberts began his NFL journey with the New England Patriots, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft out of Houston.
He spent his first four seasons in New England and was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, contributing during the memorable Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons and the defensive-minded victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. That pedigree of winning at the highest level is something the Steelers can lean on as they continue building a competitive roster.
After leaving New England, Roberts spent three seasons in Miami before signing with Pittsburgh in 2023.
His recent time with the Raiders kept him productive—he started 16 of 17 games in 2025 and recorded 90 tackles—while also giving him a season working under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who is now in Pittsburgh. That familiarity with the scheme should help him settle in quickly upon his return.
For the Steelers, the move is less about flashy additions and more about reinforcing the middle of the defense with a player who has already shown he can handle the workload and the culture.
Roberts has logged significant snaps across multiple teams, adapted to different roles (including brief fullback duties during his Patriots days), and consistently brought the kind of physicality that Pittsburgh defenses have long valued. At this stage of his career, he offers leadership and reliability rather than upside projection.
As the Steelers prepare for the upcoming season, Roberts’ return provides a steady veteran presence who has already proven himself in black and gold.
His championship background from New England and his prior success in Pittsburgh combine to make this a practical, low-risk addition that aligns with the team’s emphasis on experienced, hard-nosed contributors.
