The Steelers released Smith on Friday. Smith began last season with Green Bay before he was traded to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick in early November. The veteran pass rusher recorded a sack in his first game with the Steelers in Week 10 but didn't notch another one until Week 18. Smith generally underperformed during his half season with Pittsburgh to the extent that he was a healthy scratch for the team's wild-card loss to Baltimore. By parting ways with Smith, the Steelers will clear $12 million in cap space for next season, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Preston Smith
LB
Sorry, we don't yet have a subscription option for .
Previous game (vs. CIN 1/4)
Latest Preston Smith news
2024 Season Tackles
2024 Season Sacks
2024 Season Interceptions
2024 Season Fumbles

Preston Smith Career Stats
-
Career Stats - TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO438167271Career Stats - Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL70.54920Career Stats - INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD5270Career Stats - Fumbles
FFFRFTD970Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Defense Fumbles
-
Career Stats - TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO25718Career Stats - Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL4.519.50Career Stats - INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD030Career Stats - Fumbles
FFFRFTD000Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Defense Fumbles

Preston Smith
Season Stats
Previous Game (vs. CIN 1/4)
-
TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO322012Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL4.525.50INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD000Fumbles
FFFRFTD010

Preston Smith
Game Log
-
Regular SeasondefensiveDateOppResultSOLOASTTOTALSACKSACKYDSINTDEFTFL1/4L 17-191121400112/21L 17-340110000012/15L 13-270220000012/1W 44-380000000011/21L 19-241340000011/17W 18-161010000011/10W 28-2730311002
Previously with GB 11/3L 14-240330000010/27W 30-270110000010/20W 24-220110000010/13W 34-131010000010/6W 24-190440.53.50009/29L 29-31022000009/22W 30-143032170029/15W 16-10112000009/6L 29-3411200000Regular Season Totals 1220324.525.5005

Preston Smith Player Profile
Career History




Preston Smith Latest News
Let go by Pittsburgh
The Steelers released Smith on Friday. Smith began last season with Green Bay before he was traded to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick in early November. The veteran pass rusher recorded a sack in his first game with the Steelers in Week 10 but didn't notch another one until Week 18. Smith generally underperformed during his half season with Pittsburgh to the extent that he was a healthy scratch for the team's wild-card loss to Baltimore. By parting ways with Smith, the Steelers will clear $12 million in cap space for next season, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Production falls off in 2024
Smith tallied 32 total tackles (12 solo), including 4.5 sacks, over 17 regular-season games with the Packers and Steelers in 2024. Smith was traded from the Packers to the Steelers in early November, but he was actually more productive during his time in Green Bay. The veteran pass rusher recorded six more tackles and 0.5 more sacks as a Packer, playing 138 additional defensive snaps despite appearing in only one more game. Smith's time in Pittsburgh may also be nearing an end, as he was a healthy scratch in two of the team's final three games this season. However, Smith remains under contract through 2026, so he could very well stay in Pittsburgh and serve as a rotational edge rusher next season.
Inactive for wild-card round
Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Ravens, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports. Smith was acquired by the Steelers from the Packers in early November, and across eight regular-season games he posted 13 tackles (six solo), including 2.0 sacks. However, the veteran edge rusher will be sidelined for Saturday's contest, which means Nick Herbig and Jeremiah Moon will serve as the backups behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Records sack in win
Smith recorded three solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for a loss, in Sunday's 28-27 win over the Commanders. The outside linebacker played Sunday after getting traded to the Steelers on Tuesday. Now, with Alex Highsmith dealing with a potentially serious ankle injury, Smith may be in line to see more snaps. The veteran had 19 tackles (six solo), including 2.5 sacks, in nine games with the Packers this season.
Officially active for Week 10
Smith is active for Sunday's game against Washington, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports. Despite being acquired at the trade deadline Tuesday, Smith appears to have picked up the Steelers' defensive playbook well enough to make his Pittsburgh debut Sunday. He'll rotate with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith at outside linebacker, and Smith should see heavy usage immediately due to Nick Herbig (hamstring) being sidelined.
Set to make team debut
Smith will make his debut with the Steelers on Sunday against the Commanders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Smith was acquired by the Steelers from the Packers on Tuesday, and the 2015 second-round pick picked up the defensive playbook quickly enough for Pittsburgh to clear him to play. Across his nine appearances with Green Bay, Smith accumulated 19 tackles (six solo) and 2.5 sacks. With Nick Herbig (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's game, Smith should be the top choice to rotate in at outside linebacker behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Gets moved to AFC North
The Steelers acquired Smith from the Packers on Tuesday in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Smith's snap share had dwindled to less than 50 percent in three of the last five games, and through nine contests, he accrued just 2.5 sacks on the season, so it's unsurprising that the Packers are opting to move on from the soon-to-be 32-year-old in favor of younger pass-rushing talent currently on the team. With the Steelers, Smith will work opposite standout T.J. Watt, which may open up more opportunities for him to get to opposing quarterbacks.
Past illness
Smith (illness) returned to practice Wednesday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports. Smith missed Tuesday's practice with an illness, but it appears he's already moved past the issue after returning to the field Wednesday. The 31-year-old outside linebacker has recorded eight-plus sacks in each of his last three seasons, and he's expected to remain a solid pass rusher in 2024.
Falls ill
Smith is being limited by an illness Tuesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. The details of Smith's ailment are unknown at this point. It's not likely the veteran was planning on playing much during the Packers' preseason finale versus the Ravens on Saturday, but if he's absent, it could open up a few additional reps for 2023 first-rounder Lukas Van Ness.