Justin K. Aller/Getty Images Roosevelt Nix of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against the Carolina Panthers on November 8, 2018.
For the second time in the three days, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player has announced his retirement via Instagram. On Sunday it was outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo calling it a career; on Tuesday it was Pro Bowl fullback Roosevelt ‘Rosie’ Nix.
Though Nix doesn’t specifically mention retiring in his post, multiple members of the Pittsburgh media have since confirmed that that is his intention.
Another recent former Steeler announced his retirement on Instagram today: Roosevelt Nix, a 2017 Pro Bowler at fullback, is hanging it up. An undrafted success story, “Rosie” was a fun guy for fans here to root for.
Roosevelt Nix’s NFL Journey
Roosevelt Nix entered the NFL in May 2014, signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. Nix was released by the Falcons (on HBO’s Hard Knocks) early in training camp, but the Steelers signed him to a one-year Reserve/Future contract the following January.
He went on to appear in 15 games in 2015 (with four starts), the first quarter of the 60 games he would play during the course of his career. While the stats he produced were negligible, he was impactful enough as a special teamer and blocker to earn Pro Bowl honors in 2017. In fact, he had just four career carries for a total of four yards and one touchdown, plus a dozen catches for 69 yards and another TD. He was also responsible for 34 total tackles on special teams (24 solo), with a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
In 2019, his last season with the Steelers, Nix was named special teams captain, but injuries limited him to just three games. The following March the organization definitively moved on from him by signing Derek Watt to a three-year contract.
Shortly afterwards, Nix landed on his feet, inking a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, but he failed to make Indy’s 53-man roster.
Nix was a Defensive Lineman at Kent State
Notably, Roosevelt Nix made the transition to fullback after coming to the NFL. In college he played on the defensive line, becoming the first player in KSU history to earn first-team All-MAC honors in four seasons. All told, he produced 65 tackles for loss and 24 sacks for the Golden Flashes.
Henry Mondeaux Talks Playing Offense, Defense and Special Teams in NFL Debut
Speaking of a defensive lineman-turned-fullback, Teresa Varley of Steelers.com has a compelling piece today on Steelers defensive tackle Henry Mondeaux, who played in his first NFL game (against the Tennessee Titans) on October 25, 2020. That day Mondeaux played six snaps on defense and 17 on special teams, as well as one snap on offense, in which he took the place of starting fullback Derek Watt (who missed the game with a hamstring injury).
As it happens, Mondeaux was able to clear the way for running back Bennie Snell on a one-yard touchdown run.
“I had gone over a few plays that I knew if we got down close to the goal line it might be an option, so I was ready,” Mondeaux told Varley. “I didn’t know if it was going to happen. When they called my number, I was like all right, they are doing it, I can’t think about it, just go do it.”
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Former Steelers Pro Bowler Announces Retirement