With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We continue the series with the Pittsburgh Steelers, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
With the return of the USFL, the Steelers would sign three players over the past several seasons from the 2022 signing class. Doug Costin (Birmingham Stallions) would be a training camp signee, released at the conclusion of camp. The team would sign Domenique Davis (Houston Gamblers) on their practice squad during the middle of the 2024 season, eventually to a futures deal in 2025. Davis would be placed on injured reserve for the Steelers in 2025, before his release later in the season, eventually leading to his return to spring football with the Dallas Renegades. The team also brought in the well traveled Long Snapper Tucker Addington during the early portion of training camp in 2025.
2023 Cycle:
The Steelers invested heavily in the 2023 spring football class with two USFL players, and seven XFL players. While the team would see Nevelle Clarke (New Orleans Breakers), Lavert Hill (St. Louis Battlehawks), Hakeem Butler (St. Louis Battlehawks), Rex Sunahara (San Antonio Brahmas), and John Lovett (Vegas Vipers), all released during the conclusion of training camp, the Steelers did receive some ROI on their spring football investments. Luq Barcoo (San Antonio Brahmas), and Nate Meadors (St. Louis Battlehawks) both earned time on the Steelers practice squad, with both players being released prior to the 2024 regular season.
The team would bring back Brad Wing (San Antonio Brahmas) due to an injury to their punter Pressley Harvin. Wing would appear in two games for the Steelers, eventually rejoining the team later in the 2023 season on their practice squad. The team also brought in Aaron Shampklin (Houston Gamblers), in 2024, who would make the team on their practice squad. Shampklin appeared in three games for Pittsburgh totaling 118 all-purpose yards in 2024. He was released in May of 2025.
2024 Cycle:
Post merger of the USFL and XFL, the Steelers signed three players from the newly formed UFL. Kiondre Thomas (Houston Roughnecks) and Kyahva Tezino (Birmingham Stallions) both were released at the conclusion of training camp, however WR Brandon Smith (D.C. Defenders) would join Pittsburgh on a futures deal in 2026 heading into this season.
2025 Cycle:
Once again, the Steelers signed three players from the UFL during the 2025 signing cycle. While Kenny Willekes (Michigan Panthers) would be released at the conclusion of training camp, interior defensive lineman Kyler Baugh (St. Louis Battlehawks) would spend the 2025 season on the practice squad. The team also brought in Cornell Powell (D.C. Defenders) for a week on their practice squad, eventually being released and returning to the UFL.
Since the return of the USFL in 2022, the Steelers have signed eighteen players to contracts, with spring football ties. The Steelers have recently signed Jacoby Windmon (Columbus Aviators) who returns to the team after his release from Pittsburgh in December of 2025. Windmon totaled 3.5 sacks in 3 games in the UFL during the spring, and is now back on the team.
The Steelers have also rostered Long Snapper Christian Kuntz from the 2020 XFL who has remained on the roster since 2020. Kuntz was one of 24 XFL/AAF signings that the Steelers invested in from 2019 to 2020. Along with Kuntz, and Windmon, Kyler Baugh and Brandon Smith remain on the roster heading into training camp. UFL to NFL signings will continue once the teams begin training camp, later in July.