NFL veteran defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi signed a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ogunjobi, a former third-round pick, spent the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers but has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
Free-agent DT Larry Ogunjobi is headed back to the Steelers on a three-year deal that will pay him $21.75 million in the first two years of the deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023
Larry Ogunjobi, Pittsburgh Steelers, Agree to Contract
Ogunjobi’s first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a successful one. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the defensive lineman finished his season with one 1.5 sacks, 48 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and 11 quarterback hits while helping to anchor one of the better defensive lines in football. While the Steelers started slow, they finished the season with a 9-8 record and just barely missed the playoffs.
Larry Ogunjobi originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Selected by the Cleveland Browns, the Charlotte product spent the majority of his rookie season as a rotational player. Appearing in 14 games while making one start, the rookie finished his inaugural campaign with one sack, 32 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and one quarterback hit.
After splitting snaps as a rookie, Ogunjobi earned a full-time starting role in 2018. Starting in all 16 games, the defensive lineman broke out in a big way, recording 5.5 sacks, 52 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble, and 15 quarterback hits. He had a similar season in 2019, recording 5.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 13 quarterback hits in 15 games.
Larry Ogunjobi had something of a down year during the final year of his contract. Starting and appearing in 15 games, the defensive lineman finished the 2020 season with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 46 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and six quarterback hits.
Ogunjobi signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals the following offseason and recorded arguably the best season of his career. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the Charlotte product recorded a career-high seven sacks to go along with 49 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, and 16 quarterback hits. This career season also helped propel the Bengals to the Super Bowl, where they would eventually lose to the Los Angeles Rams.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
