Steelers Ink Former Falcon, Brown Matt Stewart to Long Snap

Remember the name Matt Stewart – a long time linebacker that has played with Atlanta and Cleveland? Well, he’s now a member of the Steelers, but not as a linebacker – but as a long snapper.

Stewart hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2006, but is hoping to make a new name for himself as the clubs long snapper. He’ll take the spot of Jared Retkofsky, who was released last week.

The 30-year-old was was in training camp with Arizona and Dallas the past two seasons but didn’t make the final roster. He was a 2001 fourth-round draft pick by Atlanta. He has 60 career starts and was a core special-teams player for the Falcons until 2004 and then Cleveland (2005-06). Stewart, who played at Vanderbilt, was considered one of the top long-snappers in his draft class.

It’s an interesting signing to say the least, and if it works out, it could be a good move for a team that simply was awful in a number of areas on special teams last season.