Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
LS Christian Kuntz
Experience/age: Fourth season/30
Contract status: $1,163,333 cap hit, signed through 2026
The past: The converted linebacker has been a steadying presence at the long snapper position since winning a competition with Kameron Canaday in the 2021 training camp. Kuntz has served as the team’s long snapper for the past three seasons and has played in 51 consecutive games. He has come a long way since spending the 2020 season on the team’s practice squad.
The Chartiers Valley graduate still likes to show off the tackling skills that enabled him to set a school record with 30 sacks at Duquesne. Kuntz was involved in four tackles last season, and he has been a part of seven stops in his three-year career.
"Everybody is here to see T.J. Watt. I'm so confused why." ????
Christian Kuntz went undercover scanning tickets for #SteelersCamp practice. pic.twitter.com/6DWVKE66jo
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2023
2024 outlook: Kuntz will head into training camp without any competition for his roster spot. Punter Cameron Johnston is the only other player on the roster who can make that claim.
The Steelers showed their faith in Kuntz by securing him to a three-year, $3.765 million contract in March. It included a $325,000 signing bonus.
Kuntz spent offseason workouts snapping to Johnston, a new addition among the specialists. He also has a good rapport with long-time kicker Chris Boswell as well as Matthew Wright, who is spending another training camp with the Steelers.
