Former Steelers DB Russell Stuvaints signs with Pittsburgh indoor team
The Burgh Defenders, who will open their first season in the American Arena League on March 23, signed McKeesport native and former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Russell Stuvaints, majority owner and coach Tjuan Benafactor announced Thursday.
Stuvaints, 38, played three seasons for the Steelers, including four games in 2005 when the team won Super Bowl XL. He played college ball at Youngstown State.
“We are excited to have Russell in our secondary,” Benafactor said. “He adds another level of experience and maturity to our secondary and team overall.”
The Defenders will take a roster of 21 players into their first game against the West Virginia Roughriders at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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