Steelers Bring Back Edge Rusher KJ Henry After Journeyman 2025 Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers are giving KJ Henry another shot.
After a whirlwind 2025 season that saw the 26-year-old edge rusher bounce between five different teams, Henry is back in Pittsburgh, re-signing with the Steelers following a short stint with the Cleveland Browns. The team made the move official on Wednesday.
Henry initially landed in Pittsburgh back on October 11, after spending time earlier in the year with both the Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. But his first stay in the Steel City was short-lived. He never saw the field-staying on the practice squad before being released on November 5.
From there, it was back to Cleveland. The Browns picked him up on November 11, and while he didn't get much run, he did suit up for one game-logging five snaps on special teams against the Titans on December 7.
He didn’t record any stats in that outing, and when the Browns’ season ended, so did his contract. Henry hit free agency and chose to return to Pittsburgh for 2026.
It’s been a winding road for the former Clemson standout, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Henry showed flashes of potential in his final college season, posting 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six passes defended, and nine tackles for loss. That production earned him a shot at the next level, and he made some noise as a rookie in Washington, appearing in 10 games and tallying 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
But the Commanders moved on from Henry before the 2024 season, cutting him during final roster trims. The Cincinnati Bengals quickly scooped him up off waivers. He saw limited action in two games there, primarily as a backup, and didn’t record any stats.
The Dallas Cowboys came calling next, signing Henry off the Bengals’ practice squad in October 2024. He played in two games, again mostly on special teams, before being released in November.
Then came a brief but memorable stop in Philadelphia. Henry joined the Eagles’ practice squad on November 26, 2024, and was part of the team during their Super Bowl run.
While he didn’t play a major on-field role, he walked away with a ring. He later signed a reserve/future deal with Philly on February 14, but was waived in July and claimed by the Browns.
Cleveland kept him around through the preseason but cut him from the practice squad in September. That led to one more short return to the Eagles’ practice squad before he signed with Pittsburgh in October.
Now, Henry finds himself back in the black and gold, looking to carve out a more permanent role in a defense that prides itself on depth and pass-rushing prowess. He’s still chasing consistent snaps, but with his size, athleticism, and experience in multiple systems, the Steelers clearly see something worth investing in.
For Henry, it’s another opportunity-and in a league where roster spots are earned one snap at a time, that’s all he needs.