The Pittsburgh Steelers selected a defensive lineman on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. But the team still found it necessary to bring back a veteran for the position group just a day after the conclusion of the draft — Dean Lowry.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday evening the Steelers agreed to re-sign Lowry. With the deal, the veteran will be back in Pittsburgh for a third consecutive season.
Lowry last appeared in the NFL during the 2024 season. In that campaign, Lowry dressed for 12 games, starting one contest.
Lowry posted five combined tackles, one sack and one pass defense in those 12 games. He played 159 defensive snaps and 31 more snaps on special teams throughout the season.
Last year, Lowry missed the entire season because of an ACL tear he sustained during training camp. The Steelers placed Lowry on injured reserve in early August.
The 2026 campaign will be Lowry’s 11th season in the NFL. He started 80 games over seven years with the Green Bay Packers to begin his professional career.
Steelers Bring Back Defensive Lineman Dean Lowry: Report
The veteran defensive lineman elected to test free agency at the beginning of March. But he didn’t appear to get any opportunities while on the open market.
That led to Lowry coming back to Pittsburgh, who clearly still had interest in the veteran despite the fact he missed all of 2025.
Lowry began his career as a fourth-round pick for the Packers in the 2016 NFL Draft. In seven seasons with Green Bay, he appeared in 111 games, posting 252 combined tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.
Before coming to Pittsburgh, Lowry spent the 2023 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. He started four of nine contests in Minnesota that season.
Lowry played his fewest defensive snaps in a season since his rookie campaign during 2024. But with his new contract, the Steelers appear to still value Lowry for depth.
Steelers Defensive Line Depth After 2026 NFL Draft
Lowry is the second defensive lineman the team has added since the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Steelers also signed undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kevin Jobity from Syracuse.
In the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers added Notre Dame defensive end Gabe Rubio at No. 210 overall.
Lowry and the two rookies will supplement a defensive line group in Pittsburgh that features starters Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon. By the end of last season, 2025 fifth-round pick Yahya Black was playing a significant role as well.
In 2026 NFL free agency, the Steelers added veteran defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day.
The Steelers also have defensive linemen Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee, Anthony Goodlow, Jahvaree Ritzie and Kyler Baugh on their offseason roster.
Lowry will be able to provide depth for the Steelers at both defensive tackle and defensive end. Lowry mostly played defensive end for the team two years ago, but he also received snaps in the middle of the defensive line.
It’s worth noting, though, that according to Pro Football Focus, Lowry was the worst Steelers defender during the 2024 campaign. Lowry posted a team-worst 34.3 overall PFF player grade.
He actually scored an above average grade in pass rush, but Lowry severely struggled in run defense and at tackling according to PFF.
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