Four Former Pitt Players Receiving Opportunity at Steelers Rookie Minicamp

The pipeline from Pitt to the next-door Pittsburgh Steelers remains open as several players looking to make a name for themselves on the professional level get their first opportunity on the South Side.

Four former Pitt players are participating in the three-day Steelers rookie minicamp.

Kicker Ben Sauls, safety P.J O’Brien and defensive ends Nate Matlack and Bam Brima are all competing on the field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for two on-field workouts, along with one final day on Sunday.

Sauls is the most notable name out of this group after signing with the Steelers not long after the 2025 NFL Draft. He looks to have a long pro career and has an advantage after kicking in Acrisure Stadium for the past few seasons.

He is no stranger to converting on long kicks as he knocked through six 50-yard field goals during his final season at Pitt in 2024, including a pair from 57 and tying a program record with a 58-yard make. In 2024, Sauls connected on 21-of-24 field goals and a perfect 44-of-44 on extra points. He was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-American team and a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist.

O’Brien, Matlack and Brima, with the latter two converting to linebackers, were rookie camp invites and on a tryout basis.

Former Pitt safety P.J. O’Brien during Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie Minicamp. May 9, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

O’Brien, a 6-foot, 185-pound Pompano Beach, Fla. native, played in all 13 games this past fall as a senior with 33 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Across his Pitt career, he appeared in 49 games as he compiled 103 total tackles and four interceptions.

Along with the Steelers, Matlack was also invited to the Kansas City Chiefs’ minicamp. He spent one season at Pitt after transferring in from Kansas State. He registered 22 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 starts.

Brima is an intriguing prospect, who spent last seasons playing on the NAIA level. He stands at 6-5, 261 pounds and was apart of the Pitt program for five seasons. In 33 career games, he recorded 43 total tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and three fumble recoveries with three starts.