Given the rich history and family-like atmosphere, coupled with the chance to play for head coach Mike Tomlin, it was a rather easy decision for veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry to ink a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I am excited to join a franchise that is known for its defense,” Lowry told his hometown newspaper the Rockford Register Star in Illinois. “The level of consistency that Coach Tomlin has had over a decade now is really impressive. I am looking forward to being a part of it. Also, you see some similarities between Green Bay and Pittsburgh, with respect to being an iconic franchise and being in a community that really values football.
“It was an easy choice. It was a slow first week of free agency but I wasn’t really surprised, seeing how last season went with the injury and everything. The Steelers called at the right time. I went to visit last week to Pittsburgh and it felt right.”
Lowry, 29, is entering his ninth NFL season, seven of which were played with the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him out of Northwestern in the 2016 NFL Draft. He maintained at least a co-starting role in Green Bay through 2022. He had his most impactful season in 2021, when he recorded five sacks in addition to 42 tackles and five tackles for loss. He also had four passes defended and a fumble recovery.
A 6-foot-6, 296-pound defensive lineman, Lowry can play both three- and five-technique, and will likely replace Armon Watts as the Steelers’ seventh rotational defensive lineman, along with Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Montravius Adams, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk.
“With young players, sometimes it’s more up and down with them. Meeting with Coach Tomlin, he made it clear that there is a strong sense of urgency right now in the building and he wants guys who have been there and done that,” Lowry said.
“I fit that mold of what they are looking for in a defensive player this fall.”
After playing defensive end for seven years in Green Bay, Lowry moved inside to tackle with the Minnesota Vikings. Now the plans are for him to move back to end in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme. He gets the first chance to show what he can do when OTAs (Organized Team Activities) start on April 15.
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