Special teams leads to special feeling for Steelers' Jamir Jones

Jamir Jones’ eyes lit up. And it wasn’t just because he was still basking in the glow of making the cut for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster the day prior.

A first-year player who was the recently completed training camp’s proverbial breakout darling, Jones was asked about the mentality of covering kickoffs and punts.

“Just go!” Jones said after the Steelers’ most recent practice Wednesday. “See ball, get ball.

“It’s the most fun you can have on the field. It’s just like playing in the backyard again … with my friends. It’s see ball, get ball and just use your athleticism, your length — speed, power, everything. And I just love it.”

Special teams prowess, no doubt, is what clinched Jones’ roster spot. A year after he lasted less than a week of the Houston Texans’ training camp as an undrafted rookie, Jones led the Steelers in sacks in the preseason with 2 1/2 sacks, nine QB hits, three tackles for loss and six special teams tackles.

With all due respect to the pass-rushing skills that allowed Steelers coaches to feel comfortable about Jones as a No. 4 outside linebacker, it was Jones’ knack for making plays on special teams that most opened eyes.

“It’s on the tape. I mean, look at him make plays,” special teams coordinator Danny Smith said. “He’s a good player. He was a good player in the (preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game), and that caught my attention. He’s made plays in the preseason.

“I put him in some, if you will, veteran-type positions with a chance to perform, and he’s met every challenge. I like him a lot. He’s gonna be a good football player. He’s just scratching the surface. His talent level and his understanding are very real and very natural, and a guy like that’s easy to coach.”

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Jones played at Notre Dame as part of an incoming class that included Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. Jones’ older brother, Jarron, also went to Notre Dame and also was property of the Steelers in 2020-21. Jarron Jones, an offensive lineman, was released by the Steelers over the summer.

Jamir Jones was discovered when he returned to Notre Dame to attend that program’s Pro Day this past spring. With coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert on hand to get a look at the Irish’s 2021 draft-eligible players, Jones impressed that he informally was offered a contract on the spot.

As it was for much of the rest of the world, 2020 was a difficult year for Jones and not just because he was out of football after his release from the Texans. Jones’ father had a bout with covid-19.

“Just a lot stronger than I give myself credit for,” Jones said when asked what he learned about himself over the past 18 months. “Just staying at it mentally, it was definitely a lot. And there was some times where I didn’t know. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, if I’d ever get another chance, if I’d ever see my dad again. And I just put my faith in God and I prayed to him a lot and I just focused, stayed at it, stay with the football and kept grinding — and everything fell into place.”

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