A former starter is seeking a new opportunity as the Dallas Cowboys try to bounce back from consecutive road losses. Veteran linebacker Jaylon Smith is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers after spending several years in Dallas.
On December 26, Smith received a new NFL contract as a tardy Christmas present. The news was first revealed by his agent Doug Hendrickson in a post on X.
Smith was released on November 22nd after spending the most of his time with the Las Vegas Raiders. Since the Raiders signed him off the New Orleans Saints practice squad, Smith will actually be joining the Steelers for the third time in 2023.
Last season, when Smith was a starting linebacker for the New York Giants and a former star at Notre Dame, the Cowboys faced the team. Smith is now staying in the AFC as the Steelers try to secure a Wild Card berth in the playoffs in their final push.
Smith was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, a risky move. Despite being a highly anticipated prospect at Notre Dame, he tore his ACL and LCL in his final game as a Fighting Irish player.
Dallas chose him with the knowledge that he wouldn’t return for the next campaign. After recovering, Smith was able to play in 2017 and immediately impressed the Cowboys with two forced fumbles and six tackles for loss, demonstrating why they had selected him in the first place.
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