Posting a random Steeler every day until kickoff or I forget – Day 43: Dean Caliguire

OL Dean Caliguire (1991)

Dean Caliguire was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft out of Pitt, where he had earned AP All-East Team honors. His rookie year, a foot injury put him on IR for the entire season, and he returned to play 2 games for the 49ers in 1991.

On October 5, he was signed off waivers to the Steelers practice squad and promoted to the active roster on October 18. That season, he would play in seven games for the Steelers. He was released on August 31, 1992 and was subsequently re-signed on September 15 before being released again on November 3.

That offseason, he signed with the New England Patriots but was released in June prior to the start of the pre-season. After leaving the NFL, he briefly worked in Pitt’s athletic department before starting a career in sales, selling insulation equipment for the steel and cement industries.

Reflecting on his career, he said that in hindsight it might have made more sense at the time to stay in San Francisco as their offense was better suited toward his skillset, but having been born and raised in Pittsburgh, he said, “As a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, who doesn’t want to go play for the Steelers and Chuck Noll? It’s a dream come true.”