The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back linebacker Jacoby Windmon last season following a stint with the Carolina Panthers. The Steelers will have an opportunity to do that again this year.
The Panthers waived the former Pittsburgh linebacker on Thursday according to the NFL’s transaction wire. Windmon had been in Carolina since joining the Panthers practice squad in November.
Thursday marked the end of Windmon’s second stint with the Panthers. He’s also had two stints with the Steelers.
Windmon began his career as an undrafted free agent for Pittsburgh in 2024. Last season, he signed with the Steelers practice squad in October after spending training camp with the Panthers.
Carolina signed him to its practice squad in November after his second Steelers release.
In 2024, his NFL Draft profile described his quickness and toughness as his two main strengths.
“Showed initial quickness and good flexibility to dip and bend,” said his profile. “Windmon has active hands and suddenness to his movements, demonstrating the ability to counter inside.
“Shows toughness to get under the pads of tackles to bull them, club them upfield to get the inside land, or right through blocks for secondary rush when the passer steps up.”
During his two Pittsburgh stints, Windmon didn’t make an appearance during the regular season. With the Panthers, Windmon played eight games during 2024 and one in 2025.
Panthers Release Ex-Steelers LB Jacoby Windmon
The former undrafted free agent has bounced between the Steelers and Panthers the past two years. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if the linebacker gets another opportunity this offseason in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers, though, have obviously changed their coaching staff. So it’s not at all guaranteed Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham will see the same potential in Windmon as Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin did each of the past two years.
Windmon played college football at UNLV and Michigan State from 2019-23. During the 2021 campaign, he earned second-team All-Mountain West honors. In that season, he had 118 combined tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
With the Spartans the following campaign, Windmon led the Big Ten with six forced fumbles. He had 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks with an interception in 2022 as well.
In his eight games with the Panthers, Windmon had 22 combined tackles, including one for loss, two pass defenses and 1.5 sacks. Most of that production came in 2024.
Last season, Windmon only played on special teams for Carolina in his lone game. He didn’t register a tackle.
Steelers LB Depth Entering Rookie Minicamp
Pittsburgh’s new coaching staff might not view Windmon in the same way as the previous regime. But in all likelihood, the depth the Steelers possess at linebacker will prevent Windmon from getting another chance in Pittsburgh this summer.
Patrick Queen is set to be the team’s leading inside linebacker for the third straight campaign. The Steelers will also bring back Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison. That pairing could potentially platoon next to Queen in Graham’s defense this fall.
Additionally, the Steelers re-signed veteran Cole Holcomb and still have former seventh-round linebacker Carson Bruener to play on special teams. In undrafted free agency this offseason, the team also added Daylan Carnell.
That depth makes a Windmon reunion in Pittsburgh unlikely during 2026.
Former Steelers Tough LB Reaches NFL Free Agency: Report