The Miami Dolphins aren’t the only franchise collecting former players and coaches of the Green Bay Packers. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are now coached by Mike McCarthy and quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, signed another former Packers player on Thursday.
According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, the Steelers are signing veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, who arrived in Green Bay late in McCarthy’s tenure and then broke out as a red zone threat with Rodgers and Matt LaFleur in 2020, catching 11 touchdown passes.
Tonyan was a tryout player for the Steelers at minicamp. Over five seasons with the Packers (2017-22), Tonyan caught 137 passes for 1,437 yards and all 17 of his career touchdowns.
Since leaving the Packers as a free agent following the 2022 season, Tonyan has played for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs. Despite playing in 39 games over the past three seasons, Tonyan has caught only 12 passes between the 2023 and 2025 seasons. The Steelers will be his sixth NFL team. He turned 32 years old in April.
Tonyan will see many familiar faces in Pittsburgh. The Steelers recently returned the 42-year-old Rodgers at quarterback and then signed defensive lineman Dean Lowry and safety Darnell Savage, both former Packers. Running back Lew Nichols, a Packers draft pick in 2023, is also with the Steelers.
McCarthy’s staff is full of former Packers coaches, including offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, assistant head coach Joe Whitt Jr., offensive line coach James Campen, senior assistant Frank Cignetti Jr., linebackers coach Scott McCurley and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons.
Jahri Evans, an assistant offensive line coach for the Steelers, played for the Packers in 2017.
In Pittsburgh, Tonyan will join a tight end room featuring Darnell Washington, Pat Freirermuth and rookies Lake McCree and Chamon Metayer. It’s possible Tonyan could slot in as the veteran third tight end behind Washington and Freiermuth, giving Rodgers and the Steelers a logical replacement for Jonnu Smith in 2026.
