Larry Ogunjobi returned to Steelers because of 'how they took care of me' in 2022 season

It took three trips into free agency for Larry Ogunjobi to sign a long-term contract with an NFL team.

Considering all he went through to get to that point and the way he was used last season, that made it an easy decision for the veteran defensive tackle to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ogunjobi, whose first season with the Steelers was limited by injuries suffered the previous year, accepted a three-year, $28.75 million contract during the NFL’s legal tampering period for free agents in March.

“I think it was the energy of this team,” Ogunjobi said of his reason for returning to the Steelers. “Going through the injury last year, how they took care of me and welcomed me with open arms was super important.”

When Ogunjobi joined the Steelers last June in the wake of Stephon Tuitt’s sudden retirement, he was unable to run, and his weight admittedly was a bit higher than his listed 305 pounds. It was fallout from a foot injury he suffered in an AFC divisional playoff game for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The injury, which required surgery, led to an extended trip on the unemployment line. Ogunjobi thought he had secured a three-year, $40.5 million deal with the Chicago Bears last March, but the offer was pulled when Ogunjobi failed his physical.

That is what eventually led him to the Steelers, who were looking for a strong run defender and capable pass rusher to plug into the defensive line rotation. Ogunjobi, who spent his first four seasons with Cleveland and one with Cincinnati, fit the bill.

He also provides veteran leadership behind elder statesman Cameron Heyward. Ogunjobi, who turned 29 over the weekend, is the second-oldest and second-most experienced member of the defensive line.

“He doesn’t talk much,” said second-round pick Keeanu Benton, who was elated Wednesday to hear that Ogunjobi referred to him as a “dancing bear.”

“I’m glad I got that compliment,” Benton said. “He doesn’t say much. That is a guy who you’ve got to gain his respect for him to even talk to you.”

The Steelers handled Ogunjobi’s injury situation delicately, allowing him to get frequent rest during the week.

Although he started 16 of 17 games, Ogunjobi was listed on the injury report for the final 12. He missed at least one practice in each of those dozen weeks, but the only game he sat out was at Philadelphia prior to the bye.

“It was annoying,” Ogunjobi said. “It was an injury that for a lot of people could be career ending.”

Most weeks during the second half of the season saw Ogunjobi miss at least two of the three allotted practices. Yet he continued to suit up on game day.

A case could be made that Ogunjobi did some of his best work when he wasn’t given practice time. After missing all three practices in the week before the game against Las Vegas, Ogunjobi had four tackles, one for a loss, and a quarterback hit.

Still, it was a season of stops and starts for Ogunjobi, whose 1 1/2 sacks paled in comparison to the seven he recorded in his lone season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

“It affected me from a feel standpoint,” he said. “You play with a foundation and what you’ve been doing for years, but just being able to stay on that speed, stay on that trajectory you’ve been trying to lay for a long time is important.”

That didn’t come until after the season, when Ogunjobi’s body finally felt like its old self. At organized team activities, he has taken team reps with the rest of his teammates.

“It’s paramount to get your foot in right, get that feel right, get that football conditioning in the offseason,” he said. “I’m excited to have a full offseason to train the way I’ve been able to train and get back out there to play football.”

For the next three seasons, Ogunjobi will get that chance to play with the Steelers. The opportunity to get some long-term security was one of the reasons he agreed to return to the organization.

“In any great field, in any great career, you want to be consistent,” he said. “I think that’s the key to greatness. Being able to be in a consistent place and be able to build upon the foundation that you laid is important.”