Though the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be in this year’s Super Bowl, three of its former players are attending the big game. The final matchup featuring the AFC’s New England Patriots and the NFC’s Seattle Seahawks carry multiple Steelers’ ties.

For the Patriots, QB Josh Dobbs and ILB Robert Spillane previously spent time in Pittsburgh. Dobbs was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and served as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup. Playing time was sparse with Dobbs only appearing in six career games with the team and throwing just 17 passes.

During the 2019 season, the Steelers traded Dobbs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. One week later, Roethlisberger tore ligaments in his elbow and missed the rest of the season, forcing the team to rotate between Mason Rudolph and rookie Duck Hodges the rest of the way. Had Dobbs been kept, Pittsburgh might’ve made the playoffs.

Dobbs returned to Pittsburgh for the 2020 season. But he appeared in just one game, attempting five passes off the bench against the Cleveland Browns. Injured during the summer of 2021, he spent the year on IR. Since, he’s become a true journeyman quarterback spending time with seven different teams. He’s been traded three different times.

Signing with New England in 2025, Dobbs has kept his bench spot warm. He’s thrown just 10 passes all season, all in mop-up regular season victories. Now, he’ll get a chance to win his first Super Bowl ring.

Spillane found traction in Pittsburgh. Initially a practice squader, he climbed football’s ladder to make the roster, become a core special teamer, and eventually, a valuable defensive piece. Across four seasons, he appeared in 50 games with 16 Steelers’ starts. In 2022, his 79 total tackles ranked fourth on the team.

Hitting free agency in 2023, he spent two years as a full-time starter for the Las Vegas Raiders where he amassed a combined 306 tackles. Over that span, only three players – Zaire Franklin, Bobby Wagner, and Roquan Smith – recorded more. In 2025, he reunited with Mike Vrabel, who coached him in Tennessee, to record 97 tackles and two interceptions for the Patriots. One of those picks came against Aaron Rodgers in Week 3.

Of course, it’s also worth mentioning Vrabel was drafted by and played for the Steelers from 1997-2000 before spending the bulk of his playing career with the Patriots where he won three rings.

The Seahawks have just one ex-Steeler, and he won’t be able to play in the big game. Wide receiver Cody White has been on injured reserve since Week 18 due to a groin injury. Because he’s only missed three games, he won’t be eligible to be activated for the Super Bowl. In ten games this season, White caught three passes for 90 yards and one touchdown while handling a handful of kick returns and logging more than 100 special teams snaps.

Spending several years in Pittsburgh, White spent parts of it on the practice squad. But he appeared in 16 total games, catching six passes while helping out on special teams. He’s the son of Sheldon White, the Steelers’ current Director of Pro Scouting.

Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday February 8th at 6:30 PM/EST on NBC in Santa Clara, California. With a win, the Patriots will break a record currently shared with the Steelers for most Super Bowl wins. Currently, both franchises have six.