Veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry is re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. A free agent who missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL, Lowry returns to the team, bolstering defensive line depth.
Contract details weren’t immediately known, but the deal is likely one-year for close to, if not at, the veteran minimum.
Lowry initially signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh before the 2024 season. In his first year, he played in 12 games, recording five tackles and one sack. Lowry also blocked one kick. His playing time was sparse, and he ended the year inactive.
Early in training camp in 2025, Lowry tore his ACL in his right knee and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Presumably, he’s now healthy and ready to compete for a roster spot this offseason.
Turning 32 in June, Lowry has played in 132 games with 85 starts. He was in Green Bay and was drafted by Mike McCarthy. He was there for the 2018 season, when current Steelers’ defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was on staff. That familiarity likely helped get Lowry back to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is aiming to repair a run defense that faltered last season, finishing 15th in yards per carry allowed. The Steelers allowed 164 rushing yards in their playoff loss to the Houston Texans after giving up 299 yards on the ground in 2024’s Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Lowry’s roster spot isn’t guaranteed. Pittsburgh has added defensive line depth throughout the offseason by signing veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day and drafting Notre Dame’s Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round. Lowry will compete for one of the final roster spots. He’ll bring a veteran presence against relatively younger competition like Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee, undrafted free agent Kevin Jobity Jr., and Rubio.