Pittsburgh Steelers sign former Ohio State defensive end to reserve/future deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Ohio State defensive end John Simon to a reserve-future deal on Thursday afternoon, the team announced on Twitter.

He landed on the Steelers’ practice squad in December, after he was waived by the Tennessee Titans.

Simon will be re-united with his former Buckeyes teammate, Steelers great Cameron Heyward. The tandem were teammates in Columbus from 2009 to 2010. Simon was a fourth-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The former Ohio State standout has also spent time with the Houston Texans (2014-2016), Indianapolis Colts (2017), New England Patriots (2018-2020), and the Tennessee Titans (2021).

Simon was promoted to the Steelers’ active roster for their Week 16 matchup at the Kansas City Chiefs but didn’t record any stats.

The former Ohio State star has recorded 283 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, two interceptions, and one defensive touchdown during his 100 career games in the NFL.

Reserve/future contracts are signed in between the end of the NFL regular season and the new off-season by players who did not end the regular season on an active roster. His deal begins when the NFL begins its 2022 operating season. The league is still in the 2021 season with the Super Bowl yet to be played.

Simon’s career with Ohio State

He played for Ohio State from 2009 to 2012. As a senior in 2012, he was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. The Youngstown, Ohio, native was also named third-team All-American by the Associated Press. He finished his career at Ohio State with 154 tackles and 20.5 career sacks.

Before Ohio State, Simon was selected to play in the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He played his high school football for the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals (Youngstown, Ohio).