Steelers expecting more out of Larry Ogunjobi for good reason
If everything went to plan last offseason, Larry Ogunjobi would've signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears worth over $40 million. He had just finished a successful 2021 season with the Cincinnati Bengals with hopes to parlay a prove-it deal into generational wealth. A failed physical screwed things up for the veteran defensive tackle, […]
If everything went to plan last offseason, Larry Ogunjobi would've signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears worth over $40 million. He had just finished a successful 2021 season with the Cincinnati Bengals with hopes to parlay a prove-it deal into generational wealth.
A failed physical screwed things up for the veteran defensive tackle, and the Pittsburgh Steelers swooped in to give him another shot. Ogunjobi took on another one-year deal to earn something greater, and he did just that.
After inking a three-year deal with the Steelers a year later, Ogunjobi recouped nearly everything that he lost in 2022. And head coach Mike Tomlin believes there's much more in store for him.
Earlier this week, the Steelers' head coach said he expects a better version of Ogunjobi in 2023 now that he's not rehabbing from injury to begin the year.
Ogunjobi's failed physical stemmed from the knee injury he suffered during his final game with the Bengals. It's why he eventually ended up in Pittsburgh. Tomlin and the seventh-year pass rusher are on a similar wavelength when it comes to year two in the Steel City.
“I don’t believe that you did [see the best of Ogunjobi]. I think that’s the perspective that I have. I think that’s the perspective that he has," said Tomlin. "And I think that makes both of us excited about his return and what that might mean. I just think that there’s benefit in him being here and knowing what to expect and having been a lap around the track and to go through an offseason where he’s not rehabilitating coming off of a surgery as exciting prospects, as well.”
Ogunjobi played 636 snaps in 2022 and recorded 30 pressures for the Steelers' pass rush. His sack total dropped from seven the year prior to 1.5 in the same number of regular season games played.
A fully healthy Ogunjobi should be able to eclipse those pressures and sacks in 2023.
Pittsburgh has made some splashes this year in free agency, but none of their re-signings were as big as Larry O. They're expecting him to live up to the contract he already earned last year.
