Steelers release ILB Joe Schobert after 1 season with organization
A day after agreeing to a two-year, $16 million contract with free agent inside linebacker Myles Jack, the Pittsburgh Steelers made the anticipated move of releasing one of last year’s starters, Joe Schobert.
Schobert had his contract terminated Thursday, bringing the Steelers a $7.834 million savings off the salary cap.
Had he remained on the roster, Schobert would have counted $9.722 against the cap, the fifth-highest total on the roster. The Steelers now are on the hook for $1.888 million in dead money.
The Steelers acquired Schobert from Jacksonville last summer after Vince Williams retired on the eve of training camp. He was paired at inside linebacker with Devin Bush and started 15 of 17 games in 2021. Schobert, 28, had one interception, six passes defensed, a forced fumble and was second on the team with 112 tackles. Schobert, though, didn’t show the pass coverage skills the Steelers were seeking when he acquired them, and his presence at inside linebacker couldn’t keep the defense from finishing last in the NFL against the run.
Jack, meanwhile, gets $6.5 million guaranteed on his two-year contract and will carry a $4.75 million cap hit in 2022 followed by a $11.25 million charge in 2023.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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