Former Steelers DL Tyson Alualu Credits Cam Heyward For Last Minute Decision To Return To Pittsburgh In 2021

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu was able to rejuvenate his career with the team. A 10th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, he never quite lived up to that hype with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He signed with the Steelers back in 2017, which ended up being a great move for his career and the Steel City.

Alualu stepped up in a big way in Pittsburgh, as he finished the final six years of his career there. Back in 2021, there was a time in which he was consdiering heading back to Jacksonville. Alualu talked about this on Cam Heyward's Not Just Football podcast and attributed Heyward for his return to Pittsburgh.

"After discussions of going back and forth with Pittsburgh, they knew I wanted to stay here. Jacksonville kept upping my guaranteed money, and it would be more money because it was [in] Florida... I was talking to Cam, [Karl] Dunbar, and they kept calling me saying, 'Hey, it's not official. We still have a shot and we want you to stay here.' It [was] in discussions that me and my wife had that we were like, 'Is it the right move to go back? We want to be here.'"

If you remember, Alualu became a free agent in 2021. It was first reported that he was nearing a deal with the Jaguars, but he had a sudden change of heart. Instead, he decided to return to the Steelers on a two-year deal. Now we know that Heyward was a main reason why. In that following season, Alualu suffered a fractured ankle, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the same after that. He returned to play all 17 games in 2022, but it became painfully clear that he didn't have much gas left in the tank. As a result, he was demoted from his starting duties relatively early in the season in favor of Montravius Adams. He still played 291 (27%) defensive snaps on the season, but his role was mainly as a depth piece.

Should The Steelers Have Brought Back Alualu In 2023?

His two-year deal expired this past offseason, and while he was open to re-signing with the Steelers, the two sides never agreed to a deal. It was time for both sides to move on, and while the former top-10 draft pick hasn't officially retired, he remains without a team. It was still an overall successful experience in Pittsburgh for Alualu. His presence was very needed along the defensive line, particularly when Stephon Tuitt didn't play beyond the 2020 season.

Alualu's two former teams, the Steelers and Jaguars, face off against each other at Acrisure Stadium this upcoming weekend. If there was any doubt on who the defensive lineman now supports, well, he made that clear in the podcast. He predicted that the Steelers will "blow out" the Jaguars in the Week 8 matchup, which would improve the team's record to 5-2.

Despite being back at home, the Steelers are underdogs to the AFC South squad by a few points. If there's anything that we've found out about this team lately, it's to not underestimate. The team figures out ways to win games, as ugly as it may be. Perhaps Alualu will be in attendance to watch his two former teams battle it out, and it seems obvious as to who he would be rooting for.

How crucial of a signing did Alualu become for the Steelers back in 2017? Where does he rank amongst the team's best free agent signings over the past 10+ years? Do you think the team should have brought him back this past offseason? As always,