It took 7 years, but ILB Elandon Roberts finally gets to play for Steelers, coach Mike Tomlin

When he talked to Mike Tomlin after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, inside linebacker Elandon Roberts reminded his new coach of a request he made during the 2016 pre-draft scouting process.

“I told him seven years ago, ‘Come get me,’ ” Roberts said Monday. “As soon as we talked, I said, ‘Man, it took seven years, huh?’ ”

The wait was worth it for Roberts, who signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Steelers after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New England Patriots and the last three with the Miami Dolphins.

In a video conference call with reporters, Roberts said he couldn’t bypass a chance to play for Tomlin when the Steelers sought him to complete the makeover of the inside linebacker position. Roberts will join former Washington Commanders linebacker Cole Holcomb as starters at a position previously manned by the since-departed Myles Jack, Robert Spillane and Devin Bush.

“What stands out is you know they are going to be well-coached,” Robert said. “They are a well-coached organization. Anything you’re struggling with during the season, you’re probably going to see it in the game. It’s always been a fight to the end with them. They’re well-coached, and they play hard.”

Tomlin made his initial impression on Roberts at the University of Houston’s pro day in 2016. It carried through five regular-season meetings and one AFC championship encounter over the next seven seasons.

Roberts’ teams went 5-1 against the Steelers, including the Dolphins’ 16-10 victory last season in a Sunday night showdown in Miami.

Roberts remembers seeing Tomlin on the field talking to the offense during a timeout while the game was on the line.

“Even though you’re playing for the brother next to you, just to know you’re playing for the coaches, too, that feeling is dope,” he said. “I’m on the other side and seeing that and thinking that’s dope. You’re fired up. I always admired that.”

Although Tomlin and the Steelers didn’t get Roberts in that 2016 draft, he landed in an enviable spot when the Patriots selected the 6-foot-1, 238-pound linebacker in the sixth round. To get to the Super Bowl in his rookie season, Roberts and the Patriots had to get through the Steelers in the AFC title game. They returned to the Super Bowl in each of the next two seasons.

“You’ve got to understand it’s not easy,” Robert said. “There’s a lot that goes into it. Being a younger guy and watching (veterans) and seeing that, it’s a big hump to get over.”

Roberts served as an understudy to Donta Hightower early in his tenure with the Patriots. He also credits safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty with teaching him how to be a professional.

“They really molded me into who I am today,” he said. “I took certain things from each and every one of them — from a game standpoint, from a study standpoint, from a big-time leadership standpoint. I’ve seen how those guys went about their business every day. I always have felt the utmost gratitude to them.”

Roberts became a starter in his second season with the Patriots and was voted a team captain in his fourth. Because of injuries on offense, he also dabbled at fullback in that 2019 season and even caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady.

Roberts, though, has no aspirations of being a two-way player with the Steelers.

“If my coaches need me to do whatever, I’m always going to help the team win, but that’s on the back burner now,” he said.

When he hit free agency in 2020, Roberts followed his Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores to Miami. He remained with the Dolphins in 2022 after Flores was fired and ultimately hired by the Steelers as a senior defensive assistant.

“That’s my guy,” Roberts said. “I was extremely happy when he was in Pittsburgh last year, and I was excited when he went to Minnesota (as defensive coordinator). I do think he knew if the opportunity came to it, there would be no question that I was going to come to Pittsburgh. I’ve always admired the organization, how they operated.”

Roberts is coming off a season in which he led the Dolphins with 107 tackles, his career high. He’ll be asked to replicate that success with the Steelers.

“It’s no secret that I’m a physical linebacker,” he said. “I love to hit. I feel like Pittsburgh’s style fits me perfectly.”