The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed international strong safety Ayo Oyelola, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KRPC-TV in Houston.
Oyelola, 25, is a native of the Essex, England. He is a 5-foot-11, 213-pound safety who spent the last two seasons on the practice squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Oyelola will the the 17th and final player on the Steelers 2024 practice squad, which only had an international slot remaining open after the team signed wide receiver Quez Watkins on Friday.
The Steelers had a spot for German outside linebacker Julius Welschof, but he suffered a knee injury in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, and was placed on injured reserve before the cut-down to 53 players last Tuesday. Welschof was later waived with an injury settlement.
Oyelola first signed with the Jaguars in 2022. He played in two preseason games with Jacksonville that season, getting a total of 16 snaps of playing time. This past season in 2023, he played in 27 snaps over three preseason games. He was released by the Jaguars in April and had not signed with another NFL team since. Oyelola worked out with the Steelers last Thursday before signing with the club.
Before signing with the Jaguars, Oyelola spent the 2021 season in the Canadian Football League, playing in one game with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Oyelola will be the first English-born Steelers player since former IPP tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson, a converted rugby player who was with the team from 2018-20.
There were two English-born players in the NFL in 2023, Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and Detroit Lions linebacker Julian Okwara.
