Tyson Alualu is still on the free agent market after his deal ended following the 2022 season. But the former Steelers nose tackle would more than welcome a reunion with the team he played six seasons with from 2017 to 2022.
Appearing on The Sick Podcast with Steelers Crazy, Alualu talked about overcoming his serious ankle injury and the drop in production that he saw last year after the injury. At 36, he would still be the elder statesman on the Steelers roster, however, he has not closed the door on returning to the team just yet. Alualu never retired, and while the Steelers added a bevy of defensive linemen, Alualu would be open to the idea if the team came calling.
“I’m preparing like I will play this season,” Alualu said. “I can’t tell where it’s gonna be. But in a perfect world, I would love to be back with the Steelers and finish here. But I’ve been training and it felt normal.”
Alualu still lives in Pittsburgh. Over the offseason, he trained with Cam Heyward and other veterans who lived around the Pittsburgh area. Alualu started the year but was demoted to second team in favor of Montravius Adams early in the season, where Adams would start the rest of the remaining games.
It was an easy year for Alualu given all the circumstances. He was still banged up at times in a room that dealt with more than a few injuries. The Steelers still called on him as a rotational player off the bench, but he never found quite the same fountain of youth he had after the serious leg injury he suffered in 2021.
Alualu was named the Ed Block Courage Award winner for the Steelers after coming back from his devastating injury. The award has been given out annually since 1984, honoring one player from each NFL team who shows commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Players vote for the winner, who has been courageous in returning from an injury or other life-changing event.
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