Veteran Roberts Returns
Steelers Reunite with Veteran Elandon Roberts to Fortify Linebacker Depth and Run Defense
Key Points
In Las Vegas last season, Roberts started 16 of 17 games and posted 90 tackles with 16 run stuffs, illustrating his continued impact as a downhill run defender.
Over two Steelers seasons (2023-24) prior to his 2025 Raiders stint, Roberts totaled 147 tackles in 33 games, including 92 solo stops and 15 tackles for loss.
The Steelers’ current middle linebacker depth behind Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson includes Carson Bruener and Cole Holcomb on the second unit, with Malik Harrison listed on the third team.
Across 10 NFL seasons, Roberts has appeared in 157 games with 121 starts, totaling 694 tackles, 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
Steelers media reaction to the reunion was positive, with Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora calling Roberts a 'tone setter'.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back linebacker Elandon Roberts on a one-year deal, reuniting the fan favorite with the team he played for in 2023 and 2024, according to Reuters. Roberts spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders before returning to Pittsburgh.
The move gives the Steelers a proven, physical run-stopper at low cost. Roberts, 32, started 16 of 17 games in Las Vegas last season, posting 90 tackles and 16 run stuffs, per Yahoo Sports.
Roberts Reunites With Coordinator Patrick Graham
The signing is more than just a roster move. Roberts played under new Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during his time in Las Vegas, per Freedom 96.9. That familiarity matters. A player who already knows a coordinator's system hits the ground running in training camp.
Graham is taking over a Pittsburgh defense that finished strong in 2024. Roberts already understands what Graham wants from his linebackers — a downhill, aggressive style in the run game. That fit made the reunion an easy call.
Roberts' Numbers Make a Strong Case for His Return
Roberts brings serious production to the table. In his two prior Steelers seasons, he totaled 147 tackles in 33 games, including 92 solo stops and 15 tackles for loss, according to Yahoo Sports. His 2023 debut in Pittsburgh was especially impressive — 101 tackles in his first year with the team.
Over 10 NFL seasons, Roberts has played 157 games with 121 starts. He has racked up 694 career tackles, 14.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles. Those are not backup numbers. That is the resume of a durable, dependable starter.
Roberts Slots Into a Stacked Linebacker Room
Pittsburgh already has Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson leading its linebacker corps. Roberts fits behind them as a high-quality third option, per PennLive. Carson Bruener and Cole Holcomb round out the second unit, with Malik Harrison listed on the third team.
Steelers Depot's Alex Kozora called Roberts a "tone setter" — a player who brings toughness and leadership to the locker room. That kind of veteran presence is hard to put a number on, especially for a young linebacker like Payton Wilson heading into his second season.
A Low-Cost Move With Clear Upside for Pittsburgh
The Steelers face a tough AFC North in 2026. Baltimore, Cleveland, and Cincinnati all invested in their offenses this offseason. Pittsburgh's answer is to lock down the run game first. Roberts fits that plan perfectly as a one-year, low-risk addition, per Yahoo Sports.
This is the kind of signing that does not make headlines on its own. But it fills a real need. Roberts knows the system, knows the building, and has already proven he can produce in Pittsburgh. For the Steelers' defense, that continuity is worth more than a splashy name.
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