Days after birth of son, punter Jordan Berry rejoins familiar Steelers

Getting signed to an NFL roster wasn’t even the most eventful part of the past week for Jordan Berry.

The veteran punter signed on to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad Tuesday. Six days prior, he and his wife, Emily, welcomed a son, Cooper, into the world.

“It’s been a busy week,” Berry said Wednesday after booting some balls following the conclusion of Steelers practice. “Had a boy, and then got the call to swing up here to help out. So that’s been pretty cool.”

Berry was brought on because the punter he lost out to in a 2021 training-camp competition, Pressley Harvin III, is experiencing hip discomfort after last week’s game in Cleveland. The Steelers’ punter for all but five of the Steelers’ 103 games between 2015-20, the 31-year-old Berry was a natural choice as an insurance policy on-site until Harvin gets healthy.

“I was appraised of the situation (regarding Harvin) but bringing me in, they need the help and I was able to slot right in,” Berry said. “(Kicker Chris Boswell), obviously has had me hold for him on and off for eight years, so he’s pretty comfortable with me. So it is what it is; I’ll come in and do what I can.”

Berry, 31, beat out fellow Australian and incumbent Steelers punter Brad Wing during 2015 training camp. Though the organization regularly brought in competition in the offseasons that ensued, he fended off all until veteran Dustin Colquitt won the job to begin the 2020 season. After five games, though, the Steelers decided Colquitt wasn’t working out — and Berry was the Steelers’ punter the final 12 games of the season (including playoffs).

The team drafted Harvin three months later, and Harvin beat out Berry during the 2021 preseason. Berry, though, then signed with the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he had a career-high 46.5-yard average last season.

But undrafted rookie Ryan Wright won a preseason competition for the Vikings’ job this summer. That left Berry to head back to his adopted American home in Kentucky, the state where he attended college (Eastern Kentucky) and where his younger brother, Wilson, currently punts (for the University of Kentucky). Berry’s wife is from the area. The couple also has a 2-year-old daughter.

Berry trained with his brother, a 10-minute drive away in Lexington, until Kentucky began its season. Since, he’s regularly made the 35-40 minute drive to EKU.

“Just to get some snaps, keep fresh,” Berry said. “Be ready for a call like this.”

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