It was a one-year experiment that never really got off the ground. The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially released Tight end Jonnu Smith, parting ways with a former Pro Bowl playmaker who arrived with real expectations and left with a quiet goodbye and a modest stat line. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the move frees up roughly $7 million in cap space heading into the 2026 league year. Where will Smith’s next stop take him?
How Smith Ended Up In Pittsburgh
Smith didn’t exactly sign a big free agent deal to come to the “Steel City.” He arrived as part of the blockbuster Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey trade with the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2025 season. Coming off the best year of his career, 884 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, and his first career Pro Bowl invite, expectations were high.
There was a storyline, too. The tight end was reuniting with Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, the man who helped unlock his potential during stops in Tennessee and Atlanta. On paper, it looked like a match made in tight end heaven. In reality? It just didn’t click.
Smith’s Numbers Tell the Story
Jonnu finished his lone Steelers season with 38 catches for 222 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 70 yards and a score on the ground, which is nice, but that’s not why you bring in a Pro Bowl tight end. He was on the field for about 52% of the team’s offensive snaps.
A guy who had just torched NFL defenses for nearly 900 yards in Miami was being used like a third tight end in Pittsburgh. That’s not a Jonnu Smith problem. That’s a situation problem.
What This Means For Pat Freiermuth
Perhaps the more interesting subplot here is what Jonnu Smith’s release signals for Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers handed Freiermuth a four-year, $48.4 million extension in 2024. Then they immediately went out and traded for Jonnu Smith, which understandably limited Freiermuth’s role. He played just 51% of offensive snaps in 2025, the lowest of his career, and posted 486 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
With Jonnu Smith gone, the message from Pittsburgh’s new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Mike McCarthy and new OC Brian Angelichio, is loud and clear: Freiermuth is their guy. He’s the centerpiece of this tight end room, and the new regime wants to see what he can do with a full workload.
Where the Tight End Goes From Here
At 30 years old, Smith enters the 2026 free agent class with something to prove. That 2024 season in Miami wasn’t a fluke. He just needs the right scheme, the right quarterback, and an offense that actually wants to use him.
The legal tampering period opens March 9, and don’t be surprised if Smith generates serious interest. Teams around the league know what he’s capable of. One bad season in a crowded tight end room doesn’t erase a Pro Bowl résumé.
A Clean Break for Both Sides
At the end of the day, this is a clean break that makes sense for everyone involved. The Steelers get their cap space back, clear the path for Freiermuth, and move into a new era under McCarthy. Jonnu Smith gets a fresh start somewhere that actually wants him as a featured piece of the offense.
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