In a shocking move that has fans reeling, the Pittsburgh Steelers have slammed the door on loyalty, opting not to tender five of their free agents as the new league year kicks off. This cold-blooded decision from the front office underscores a brutal shift to hardball tactics, leaving players—and supporters—questioning the team’s commitment to its own.

Nov 23, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (3) punts the ball to the Chicago Bears in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
The casualty list includes restricted free agents Corliss Waitman, defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo, offensive lineman Ryan McCollum, and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, along with exclusive rights defensive lineman Jacob Slade. While reports indicate the Steelers quietly re-signed Otomewo to a one-year deal earlier this week, the rest are left twisting in the wind.

The cheapest tender for restricted free agents this year? A whopping $3.520 million, per Over the Cap, giving teams the right of first refusal. But Pittsburgh’s brass apparently deemed that price tag too steep for these guys, even if it means risking their departure.

Don’t count them out entirely, though—the door might creak open for a return down the line. Still, this no-nonsense approach screams “business over brotherhood,” especially since most of these players barely saw the field or played minor roles in 2025, aside from Otomewo and the beloved Waitman, who edged out Cameron Johnston in last summer’s punting showdown.

With a fresh coaching staff in town, these familiar faces could still circle back, but the message is clear: experience alone won’t save you in this new era of Steelers football. Keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks and months—these names aren’t done haunting the headlines just yet.

Breaking Down Each Player’s Turbulent Time in the Black and Gold

Corliss Waitman stands out as the biggest gut-punch, the veteran fan-favorite who’s been axed despite three separate stints with the Steelers and a hefty 35 games under his belt. Pittsburgh’s punting hero is now a free agent, and fans are furious—how do you ditch a guy who’s bled for the team like that?

Hot on his heels is Ryan McCollum, snatched off waivers from the Detroit Lions back in 2022. He’s suited up for every single one of the Steelers’ 34 games over the last two seasons, yet he’s only racked up a measly 164 offensive snaps. Talk about underappreciated grunt work!

Esezi Otomewo dodged the full bullet with that fresh one-year pact, but not before suiting up for 12 games in 2025 following his offseason signing. At least someone’s getting a second chance in this cutthroat regime.

Jeremiah Moon, who logged 13 appearances in 2024, made a brief comeback after being poached from the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in December—only to sneak into just one game. Blink and you missed him, but his exit still stings.

Then there’s Jacob Slade, the ultimate benchwarmer. He languished on the practice squad all of 2024 without a single regular-season snap, inked a reserve/futures deal last January, and then got sidelined by a devastating knee injury in training camp. Placed on the reserve/injured list in August, his Steelers saga ends on a heartbreaking note—pure hardball from a front office playing for keeps.