Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

A former Steeler will win first Super Bowl this season

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 1/23/23

The final four teams are set. With the Bengals, Chiefs, 49ers and Eagles left playing for the Super Bowl, a former Steeler will officially win his first ring this season.

It is unknown which ex-Steeler it will be , but Bengals CB Mike Hilton, Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, 49ers WR Ray-Ray McCloud or Eagles DT Javon Hargrave will raise the Lombardi Trophy, a first for whichever one wins his final game this postseason.

It's a bittersweet feeling for Steelers fans who wish they all would have won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh, but the team either couldn't pay for them or decided it was best to part ways.

Hilton became a free agent in 2021 and signed a four-year, $24 million contract with Cincinnati. He has recorded 126 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one touchdown in his two years as a Bengal in the regular season.

Mike Hilton really is that guy. Steelers had a good one, but didn’t want to pay him in free agency. He’s worth every penny.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 22, 2023

Smith-Schuster became a free agent in 2022 after signing a one-year extension with Pittsburgh the previous year. He signed a one-year, $3.76 million deal with Kansas City, posting 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season as a Chief.

#Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who played against K.C. in the playoffs w/ the #Steelers last year: "It feels to be good on this side of the ball."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) January 19, 2023

McCloud became a free agent in 2022 as well, signing a two-year deal worth up to $10.4 million with San Francisco. He serves as the team's primary kick and punt returner and had 321 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in his first year as a 49er, along with 356 yards on punt returns and 599 yards on kick returns..

Hargrave left through free agency and signed a three-year, $39 million contract with Philadelphia in 2020, becoming the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL at the time. He has 161 tackles, 23 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his three years as an Eagle in the regular season.

All four players have been major contributors for their new teams and played a big part in reaching the conference title games.

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