Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich swapped rookie Julius Welschof to get his old jersey number back.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich will be wearing his familiar digits when he takes to the practice field at St. Vincent College for the first time on Thursday with his new, old club.
Matakevich played his first four NFL seasons with the Steelers after the club drafted him, wearing No. 44. Over the last four seasons, Matakevich took his talents to Buffalo where he also played linebacker, was a special teams captain, and wore No. 44.
Matakevich re-signed with the Steelers this July, but when he inked his one-year contract with the club, his old threads were occupied. Rookie linebacker Julius Welschof had worn No. 44 this spring.
But according to the Steelers online roster for Wednesday, Welschof has given up the number for the veteran free agent. Welschof will now wear No. 48. He wore 96 at UNC Charlotte last season and at Michigan before that.
Two different Steelers players wore No. 44 in a game since Matakevich vacated it at the end of the 2019 season. Derek Watt wore it for three seasons from 2020-22, and outside linebacker Markus Golden donned the double digit last season.
Other recent wearers of the uniform were fullback Frank Summers in 2009, running back Najeh Davenport from 2006-08, running back Terry Richardson in 1996, and cornerback D.J. Johnson from 1989-93.
No. 48 was last worn for the Steelers by running back and kick returner Godwin Igwebuike in 2023. Outside linebackers Jamir Jones (2022), Derrek Tuszka (2021) and Bud Dupree (2015-20) have also worn those digits in recent memory.
