The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to shape their defensive line depth for the upcoming season, announcing on Wednesday the signing of defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo to a one-year contract. The move brings back a familiar face to the Steel City, as Otomewo returns for his second stint with the organization after initially joining the team during the 2025 offseason.
The signing, which was confirmed by the team on March 12, 2026, represents a vote of confidence in the young defensive lineman’s development and his fit within the Steelers’ defensive scheme. While not a blockbuster headline-grabbing acquisition, the retention of depth pieces like Otomewo is a crucial component of roster building, particularly along the trenches where the Steelers have historically prioritized physicality and rotation.
Otomewo, who turns 27 later this year, first crossed paths with the Steelers during the 2025 offseason when he was brought into the fold. He quickly made an impression on the coaching staff, earning a spot on the active roster and carving out a rotational role along the defensive front. His 2025 campaign, his first substantial action of his career, provided a glimpse of the potential that made him a draftable prospect a few years prior.
During the 2025 season, Otomewo appeared in 12 games for the Black and Gold. While he was not a full-time starter, his contributions were felt in the rotation, providing fresh legs and steady play. He finished the season with nine total tackles, five of which were solo efforts. More notably, he began to show a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage, recording his first full sack of the season and adding a tackle for loss. These flashes of disruption were exactly what the Steelers hoped to see as they evaluated his long-term potential.
Looking at the broader scope of his NFL career, Otomewo has now appeared in 21 games over four seasons, with two starts to his name. His career totals stand at 18 tackles, eight solo stops, two tackles for loss, and one and a half sacks. The numbers, while modest, tell the story of a player who has been patiently waiting for an opportunity and slowly building a foundation.
His journey to Pittsburgh and back again is a testament to his perseverance. Otomewo entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft, selected 165th overall out of the University of Minnesota. As a rookie with the Vikings, he saw action in five games, recording five tackles (three solo). It was a learning year, as it is for most late-round picks, focused on adjusting to the speed and complexity of the professional game.
Following his rookie season in Minnesota, Otomewo’s career path took him to Jacksonville. He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Jaguars, though his time there was largely defined by development and patience. The 2023 season saw him primarily on the practice squad, honing his craft away from the game-day spotlight. However, the following year, 2024, offered him another taste of regular-season action. He appeared in four games for the Jaguars, starting two of them—a significant milestone in his professional development. In those four games, he registered four tackles, two quarterback hits, and half a sack. His most productive outing that season came against the Chicago Bears, where he recorded two tackles, a quarterback hit, and that crucial half-sack, demonstrating his ability to impact a game when given the snaps.
The 2025 season in Pittsburgh, however, marked the most consistent playing time of his career. The Steelers’ defensive line rotation allowed him to settle into a role and contribute on a weekly basis. His single-game highs from the 2025 season paint a picture of a player gaining confidence. He recorded a career-best three total tackles in a December game against the Miami Dolphins, a performance that also featured his lone full sack of the season. He also notched multiple tackle games against division rivals like the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, showing he could hold his own in the physical AFC North battles.
Before his professional journey began, Otomewo built his foundation at the University of Minnesota. Playing for the Golden Gophers, he was a model of consistency and durability, appearing in 46 games over his collegiate career. He finished his time in college with 81 tackles, 50 of which were solo. He also demonstrated a disruptive presence in the backfield, accumulating 13.5 tackles for loss and seven and a half sacks. His senior season in 2021 was particularly strong, earning him All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition. He also added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to his collegiate resume, showcasing a well-rounded skill set.
For the Steelers, bringing Otomewo back on a one-year deal is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. It solidifies the depth of the defensive tackle position heading into the offseason program and training camp. The Steelers have long valued a deep rotation on the defensive line to keep players fresh for fourth-quarter situations. Otomewo, having spent a full season in the system, understands the playbook, the coaching staff’s expectations, and the standard of play required in Pittsburgh.
Furthermore, his ability to contribute on special teams—evidenced by his recovery of a fumble on special teams in a 2024 game against the Bears—adds another layer to his value. Players who can contribute on both defense and special teams units are invaluable on a 53-man roster, as they free up spots for other specialists and provide flexibility on game day.
As Otomewo prepares for the 2026 season, he will likely enter training camp competing for a similar rotational role. However, with a year of experience in the system and a growing list of NFL snaps under his belt, he will aim to build on his 2025 performance. The goal will be to increase his consistency, improve his pass-rush moves, and earn even more trust from the coaching staff.
For a player who has bounced from Minnesota to Jacksonville to Pittsburgh, finding a home and a defined role is paramount. The Steelers have given him that opportunity once, and now, with this one-year contract, they are giving him the chance to prove that 2025 was just the beginning. The journey of Esezi Otomewo is far from over, and in Pittsburgh, he has found a place where hard work and development are rewarded.
