Steelers give Aaron Rodgers a gift before vacation after agreeing to terms with one of his favorite pass catchers from Green Bay
The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with a pass catcher who goes back to the Aaron Rodgers days, and it may be just what that position needed. We break it down and take a look at what’s to come.
By and large, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2026 offseason is over. The team broke mandatory minicamp this week, and while they have one more three-day session of OTAs, that will likely focus on rookie development, with very few veterans in the fold.
But before they say goodbye to the likes of Aaron Rodgers for summer break, the Pittsburgh Steelers have some work to do. They have been busy this week, signing two players from the 2023 class to contract extensions via pass rusher Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington. But their latest deal? Well, that’s a player who goes way back.
Steelers sign TE Robert Tonyan
Tonyan joined the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2018, making a name for himself out of Indiana State. The 6-5, 240-pound tight end would go on to start 18 games over the course of his five years in Green Bay, catching 137 passes for over 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He’s a linear tight end who, in his prime, was a threat for those seam balls that Aaron Rodgers likes and a big-time red-zone target. The Steelers have those two roles filled in their tight end room with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, but that room lacks a veteran presence. Last year, it was Jonnu Smith, who certainly didn’t work, but Tonyan brings a ton of familiarity.
After more NFC North stints in Chicago and Minnesota, Tonyan played for the Kansas City Chiefs last year, where coaches were impressed with Tonyan and where he learned a thing or two about career longevity. For more on his time with the Chiefs, here is Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports Kansas City.
What was Robert Tonyan’s most recent NFL experience like?
Robert Tonyan or “Big Bob” as Travis Kelce affectionately nicknamed him, looked to be a breakout candidate for the Chiefs heading into the 2025 NFL season. He crushed training camp like it was a Natty Light can and had some of the biggest plays of any player in Kansas City during the preseason. He caught eight passes for 90 yards and a touchdown over the course of three games.
Nothing went right for the Chiefs in 2025, but I feel like Tonyan’s usage underscored just how silly things were. He went from looking like a superstar in the offseason to completely disappearing in the regular season. Some of that falls on the coaching staff, who didn’t seem to involve him much in the game plan outside of special teams. When they were lacking consistency in pass-catchers, you’d think they’d look to get a guy who flourished in the preseason involved. Alas, they didn’t and Tonyan’s time in Kansas City was merely a blip. Now, he reunites with Aaron Rodgers, who got some of the best production out of Tonyan early in his career with Green Bay.
Robert Tonyan’s career stats
8 years played
- 149 receptions.
- 1,550 receiving yards.
- 17 touchdowns.
Final word
The Steelers needed depth and a veteran presence in that tight end room. Tonyan brings that and more, given his familiarity with Aaron Rodgers, and I expect the two of them to pick up where they left off.