The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t just been very diligent in vetting candidates to be their next head coach. The team has also been adding players to their offseason roster. Defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie just became the team’s latest addition.
The Steelers announced Thursday they have signed Ritzie to a reserve/future contract.
Ritzie began his career as an undrafted free agent for the New England Patriots after the 2025 NFL Draft. Following the preseason, he signed with the Patriots practice squad.
Through the NFL Draft process last year, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein labeled Ritzie as a player who was going to have to battle for a roster spot. But the NFL analyst was positive about all the things Ritzie could bring to the table.
“Frame has room for additional muscle mass. Versatility to align in odd or even fronts,” Zierlein wrote. “Gets into initial contact with sound base width. Fluid punch and release to play around blocks.
“Keeps chopping into gaps, creating more work for blockers.”
Ritzie posted 138 combined tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss in 51 games at North Carolina. He also had nine sacks, two pass defenses, two forced fumbles and an interception during his college career.
Steelers Sign DE Jahvaree Ritzie
With Ritzie, the Steelers have inked their 20th player to a reserve/futures contract. Of those 20 players, Ritzie is the third defensive end.
On January 14, the Steelers signed defensive ends K.J. Henry and Anthony Goodlow to reserve deals.
Ritzie didn’t make the Patriots roster after the 2025 preseason. The team brought him back on their first practice squad but then released him before Week 1.
This will be Ritzie’s first NFL opportunity since that release.
As a senior at North Carolina, he posted 40 combined tackles, including a college career-best 6.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Zierlein was complementary of Ritzie’s work with the Tar Heels but didn’t project a very high ceiling for the defensive end in the NFL.
“Ritzie put together solid production in his first season as a full-time starter,” Zierlein wrote last offseason. “He plays with adequate early hands and good base width to take on blocks but sets shallow anchors against add-on blockers that prevent him from effectively defending his turf.
“Ritzie isn’t quick enough or explosive enough for me to project disruption from him in either phase. He might be fighting for a back-end roster spot in camp.”
Steelers Continue Adding Players to Offseason Roster
The Steelers began addressing their offseason roster two days after losing to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round.
On January 14, the Steelers signed 13 players to futures contracts. Including Henry and Goodlow, the team inked quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, long snapper Cal Adomitis, defensive tackle Kyler Baugh, wide receiver Cole Burgess, defensive back Daequan Hardy, defensive back Jack Henderson, wide receiver Max Hurleman, offensive guard Steven Jones, running back Lew Nichols, linebacker Julius Welschof and offensive tackle Aiden Williams to deals.
Since then, the Steelers have also added offensive lineman Doug Nester, wide receiver Brandon Smith, defensive back D’Shawn Jamison, offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea, defensive back Doneiko Slaughter and offensive lineman Lorenzo Thompson to reserve contracts.
Before Thursday, the most recent future deals the Steelers made were with Slaughter and Thompson on Tuesday.
Steelers Announce Adding Versatile Former Patriots Defensive Lineman