The Pittsburgh Steelers made significant headlines this offseason by announcing the hiring of Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator. Smith arrives with much anticipation surrounding the offensive system he intends to implement, which notably emphasizes the role of tight ends.
In alignment with Smith's tight end-centric strategy, the Steelers have focused on bolstering their tight end roster throughout the offseason. On Wednesday, reporter Aaron Wilson revealed that the Steelers are adding another unproven tight end, Izaiah Gathings, to their lineup.
#Steelers signing former #Chiefs tight end Izaiah Gathings today following a successful tryout, per a league source @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 29, 2024
This addition underscores the team's commitment to ensuring Smith has a versatile and robust group of tight ends to execute his game plan effectively. The excitement among fans is palpable as they eagerly await to see how Smith's offensive vision will unfold on the field.
Gathings signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in December 2023 and later secured a futures/reserves contract in February 2024. However, by May of the same year, Gathings was waived by the Super Bowl champions.
Steelers New TE Started Out As A Wide Receiver
Standing at 6' 4" and weighing 222 pounds, Gathings played wide receiver during his college years at Middle Tennessee State. He began his professional career by signing with the New York Jets, participating in their rookie minicamp as a tryout player. Despite never having logged an NFL snap, Gathings impressed the Steelers during a tryout, leading to his recent signing.
